Emergency services remain on the scene in Princes Street after a fire took hold in an empty building in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Police Scotland has announced that “there are no reported injuries”.
The affected building, which police described as “disused”, is the empty property next to the old Debenhams store.
Photos and videos posted on social media show the top floors engulfed in flames, with smoke visible from as far away as a Calders high rise flat.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said that they sent eight fire appliances after receiving a call just before 3am on Thursday morning.
A spokesperson for SFRS said: “We were called at 2.52am on Thursday, 9 July, to reports of a fire within a former department store building on Princes Street, Edinburgh.
“Operations Control mobilised six appliances and two height appliances plus supporting resources to the scene and firefighters worked through the early hours of the morning the contain and extinguish the flames.
“Crews continue to extinguish and dampen down hotspots and will be in attendance for some time.
“Drivers and pedestrians are advised to avoid the area and road closures are in place.
“There are no reported casualties”
Police Scotland said that Princes Street, Frederick Street, and Castle Street remain closed as of 8:21am, and have asked members of the public “to avoid the area where possible at this time.”
It added: “Emergency services remain in attendance and enquiries are ongoing.”
Services on Lothian Buses, Edinburgh Trams, Scottish Citylink and Megabus are all affected.
