A high-rise building in Milan, Italy, has gone up in flames, with the blaze first spreading in the upper floors of the 20-storey tower block before moving down, according to the fire brigade.

Milan Mayor Beppe Sala said no casualties have been reported. About 20 people were suffering from smoke inhalation, local media reported.

Hours after the fire broke out on Sunday (local time), emergency services reported the blaze was under control.

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About 20 people were able to get out of the high-rise building in Milan’s outskirts without any problems, Mr Sala said, according to the Ansa news agency.

“We smelled smoke and fled immediately,” one resident told Ansa.

Another eyewitness said that panels on the walls had melted “like butter”.

Firefighters were going door to door to see if there were still people in the building.

-AAP