A fire at a New York University medical centre caused alarm on Wednesday (14 December) with thick smoke billowing out of the Manhattan building.

The city's fire department said on social media it was responding to the blaze at NYU Hospital on 30th and 1st Avenue, with the medical centre confirming it was on a construction site where no patients were being treated.

NYU Langone Medical tweeted: "There was a fire on a construction site (not patient area) at Kimmel Pavilion. The fire is out."No patients were harmed in the fire and there were no injuries. All clear."

Photos and videos of the blaze, which appeared to show thick black smoke circling upwards from a rooftop covered in flames, were widely shared on social media as users tweeted their concern for patients and staff in the area.

However, it is believed the blaze was brought under control, although the NYFD is yet to confirm this.

There has been no word as yet about how the fire started or what time, although the fire department said it had responded to a second alarm at the centre at around 12.45pm EST (5.45 GMT).

New York