A fire broke out in a business centre housing a Georgian opposition television channel on Wednesday, forcing the broadcaster off air and leaving, at first, dozens of journalists trapped inside its smoke-filled newsroom, staff said.
Georgia's emergency services said the fire was put out.
The blaze erupted in the Delisi business centre in Tbilisi, with thick smoke spreading into the Formula television station's studios and newsroom.
TV Formula journalist Sopho Vardiashvili told the Interpress news agency that "22 staff members were stranded in the newsroom, unable to leave" because smoke had engulfed the building's stairwells.
"We are 22 people in the newsroom. For now, we are safe," she earlier said.
"Firefighters came up and told us this was the safest place to stay. We have shut the door because there is heavy smoke everywhere."
She said the building's lifts had been switched off, and journalists attempting to escape down the stairs were forced to turn back because of poor visibility.
All employees were later evacuated from the building, with Georgia's emergency services confirming that firefighters initially advised them to remain inside the building.
TV Formula journalist Nino Zhizhilashvili said all broadcasts have been stopped. There was no immediate information about casualties or the cause of the fire.
This is a developing story and our journalists are working on further updates.
