King's Plaza fire: Huge clouds of smoke over Brooklyn and 21 injured after blaze breaks out in car park

Plumes of thick black smoke billowed into the air in Brooklyn as a fire raged at a major shopping centre.

Footage has emerged of the clouds filling the sky in the New York borough as firefighters battled the blaze on Monday.

Multiple vehicles in the car park of the site, known as King’s Plaza Shopping Center or King's Plaza Mall, are thought to be involved.

The New York City Fire Department has reported 21 injuries, none of which are thought to be life threatening.

An update from the department said: "There are 21 injuries – three to civilians and 18 to Firefighters, none are life-threatening. Members have various levels of smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion, working under these conditions."

Eric Adams, borough president of Brooklyn, wrote on Twitter: “There's currently a six-alarm fire at King’s Plaza Mall. Please avoid the Kings Plaza area until further notice from​ emergency officials, if possible. If you live or work in the surrounding community, please avoid the smoke and close all windows.”

The level was upgraded to a "seven-alarm" fire, with 200 members of the fire department along with 50 of the service's vehicles called to the incident, which is in the Mill Basin area.

An update from the mall’s social media said: “Kings Plaza currently closed. Multiple cars on fire in garage and smoke conditions. FDNY on scene. Avoid area.”

Images from concerned onlookers have circulated on social media as smoke filled the area.

One person, responding to a post from the fire department, said: "Please God protect these brave firefighters and responders and any civilians.

"Thank you for your service to our community."

Another person on Twitter wrote: "I hope no one gets injured in the fire at King's Plaza. So sad."

Others said they were upset by the incident and that the scenes looked "crazy".

Many expressed there hopes that people were not hurt.

The fire broke broke out at around 8.30am local time and initiated on the second floor of the garage involved, the New York Post reported.

King's Plaza has more than 120 stores including well-known retailers such as Clarks, H&M, Foot Locker, Victoria's Secret.

It is also home to a number of food outlets including Starbucks and McDonald's.