Footage has emerged showing hundreds of people evacuating a burning hotel after a helicopter crashed into the roof, sparking a massive blaze.

At around 1:50am this morning, emergency services were called to the Double Tree Hotel by Hilton on the corner of Esplanade, Abbott and Florence Streets in Cairns City, Australia.

Queensland Ambulance confirmed in a social media post that a “helicopter crashed into the roof of a hotel.”

Caitlin Dennings, Queensland Ambulance Service’s Far North chief of operations, told media on Monday that about 300 to 400 people had been evacuated from the hotel.

Footage captured by an Australian tourist was shared on social media and shows the roof engulfed in huge red and orange flames.

As the fire continued to rage, huge black clouds of smoke rose from the roof of the hotel.

“The whole building is burning,” a woman was heard saying as flames were seen on the ground floor of the hotel.

“Did you see it? The helicopter… it’s just crazy. I was just walking along there… I saw it crash,” she continued.

The helicopter crashed into the roof of the Double Tree Hotel by Hilton in Cairns City and caused a huge inferno (picture)

Some hotel guests stood in a nearby park and watched as the flames ravaged the hotel.

Two people are taken to Cairns Hospital in a stable condition after being examined by paramedics.

Queensland Police enacted a Public Safety Act (PSPA) and established an exclusion zone covering Esplanade, Minnie Street, Aplin Street and Grafton Street.

More to follow …