Demolition of burnt Zlín high‑rise building begins

A demolition crew has started tearing down the fire‑damaged 11‑storey high‑rise in Zlín, Czech Republic. The building, formerly part of a former industrial complex, was transferred to the owner, Cream, after a blaze that started on 9 July in a shoe‑warehouse on the ninth floor. No injuries were reported, but the fire caused extensive damage to inventory worth hundreds of millions of crowns.

The demolition is being carried out by Build Synergy using a 100‑ton excavator with a 42‑metre arm and hydraulic shears to cut the structure floor by floor. The firm aims to remove the main tower within 25 working days, with the entire site, including debris, required to be cleared by 15 December under a municipal order. Police are investigating the cause of the fire as a possible criminal act of negligence, and the investigation is expected to take several months.