A major fire breaks out at Geneva Airport

A major fire broke out in a partially completed reception center for asylum seekers near Geneva Airport.

Images on social media showed large plumes of smoke rising into the sky over Switzerland’s second busiest airport.

Airport spokesman Ignace Jeannerat told Swiss radio RTS: “There is a building – the new reception center for asylum seekers – that was under construction … it is on fire. It is outside the airport area. There is a lot of smoke.”

Rescue services were on site and hosed down the building, which was covered with scaffolding and tarps.

The fire has resulted in the airport suspending planes from landing and leaving all decisions about takeoffs to pilots, according to reports.

The disturbances are expected to last at least two hours. According to reports, some planes were diverted to other airports such as Lyon and Basel.

The cause of the fire is still unknown.