Multiple evacuees hospitalised after nation’s tallest skyscraper Q1 catches fire

Hundreds of residents evacuated from the Gold Coast’s Q1 skyscraper on Monday morning have returned to the building, after several people were hospitalised following the chaotic scenes.

Emergency services raced to the Hamilton Ave high rise, the tallest in the southern hemisphere, at around 7am today after the 78-storey structure’s rubbish chute caught fire.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) confirmed the state’s Fire Investigation Unit will be attending the scene late on Monday morning, while only two fire trucks remain on the scene as of 11.30am.

Queensland Ambulance Service said 11-13 patients were hospitalised, suffering from either smoke inhalation or the exacerbation of pre-existing illnesses following the massive effort of having to descend the 78-floor fire escape.

Paramedics also confirmed that a young boy of primary school age suffered an arm injury after falling over on the stairs of the fire escape, but it is not known if he was one of the patients taken to hospital.

At least six individuals have already been transported to Gold Coast University while it is believed the remaining patients will be taken to either Robina Hospital or Gold Coast Private Hospital.

All are in a stable condition.

Paramedics remained on the scene as firefighters undertook their search of the building, conducting atmospheric monitoring and checking all floors and stair wells to ensure everyone was accounted for.

Once investigations had concluded at 9.20am residents were told they were allowed to return to the building.

At the same time the eight fire trucks which attended the scene also began to disperse, with only two remaining on site, awaiting the arrival of the Fire Investigation Unit.

Fire crews first arrived at the scene at 7am and located the fire in the building’s rubbish chute, believed to be located in the basement and spanning the length of the entire building.

The blaze had been extinguished by 7.40am, however crews remained on scene for several hours to ventilate each floor.

Queensland Police remained at the site to conduct traffic control operations and were assisting with evacuations, having closed off Hamilton Ave, the main thoroughfare in Surfers Paradise, from Clifford St to Surfers Paradise Blvd.

All roads were reopened at 10.15am.

This comes after multiple evacuees from the building’s lower levels told Sunrise they had not heard fire alarms going off.

It is not yet known what caused the blaze nor the extent to which it may have caused damage to the building.

The popular tourist destination has welcomed throngs of holiday-makers from several states and territories in recent days, with Monday marking the first day of winter school holidays for NSW, ACT and WA.