Two firefighters were killed Saturday when fighting a seven-alarm blaze at an abandoned highrise building near ground zero in Lower Manhattan, mayor Michael Bloomberg said.

The former Deutsche Bank building, which sustained severe damage in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, is in the process of being demolished.

The fire broke out at about 3:40 p.m. (1940 GMT) on the 14th or 15th floor of the building and spread through several floors.

Up to 250 firefighters from 60 units across the city responded to the blaze.

One of the two firefighters killed was identified as Joseph Graffagnino, 34, of Brooklyn. He was a member of Ladder Company 5,which lost 11 members on Sept. 11, 2001.

Also killed was Robert Beddia, 53, of Staten Island.

Speaking at a press conference Saturday night, Bloomberg said both firefighters had been trapped, inhaled a great deal of smoke and gone into cardiac arrest.

The mayor said five other firefighters were injured fighting the blaze but were treated and released.

By about 8:30 p.m. (0030 GMT Sunday), the fire was all but extinguished, said Andrew Troisi, spokesman for the city's Office of Emergency Management.

Although it is too early to know the cause of the blaze, fire officials say that an electrical problem may have been to blame.

The 40-story building is in the process of being deconstructed. Construction crews have dismantled 14 stories, reaching the 26th floor Tuesday.

(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2007)