[Updated March 13 5:00pm] No injuries have been reported so far at the Huaneng Power station fire.

[Updated March 13 4:55pm] Beijing Police report via their Weibo account that traffic in the area of Guangqu Lu and Gaobeidian Lu is intermittant due to the fire and advise avoiding or re-routing if possible. They also ask that people do not slow down to rubber-neck or stop to look at or take photos of the fire along the Jingtong Highway. Expect heavy delays on routes heading east out of the city.

[Updated March 13 4:41pm] Smoke from the fire was visible as far away as Tiananmen Square, photos show.

[Updated March 13 3:45pm] See video of the fire here.

[updated March 13 3:41pm]

Breaking: A fire at a power station on the East Fifth Ring Road sent black smoke into an otherwise blue Beijing sky Friday afternoon.

Firefighters and police were called to the scene of the Huaneng Power station. Reasons for the fire were still under investigation.

WeChat users posted photos of large plumes of smoke rising from the area. The smoke was visible as far away as inside the East Third Ring Road.

We will provide more details as they become available.

Photos: Irish Jaranilla-Buaron, Christine Pan, Qu Qinggui