Massive Fire Breaks Out at Residential Building in Dubai

[Mudasir 4K]

Massive Fire Breaks Out at Residential Building in Dubai
(DUBAI, United Arab Emirates) — Fire broke out Thursday in a residential building near Dubai’s massive New Year’s Eve fireworks display.

It was not immediately clear what caused the fire, which ran up at least 20 stories of the building near the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper at 828 meters.

Burning debris rained down from the building as firetrucks raced to the scene. It was not immediately clear if anyone was wounded in the blaze.

Dubai planned to wow spectators with three separate firework displays. The show was to begin at the Burj Khalifa, which organizers said was fitted with 400,000 LED lights. They said 1.6 tons of fireworks would be used in the display.


From there, the fireworks were to light up the sky around the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab and later down near the Dubai Marina. Fireworks also will be on display in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the country of seven emirates.

 

[Sai Jai]

Burning debris could be seen falling
from the 300m-tall (1,000ft) building
as firefighters tackled the blaze.
Officials later said 16 people were
injured and the fire was under control.
There is no word on the cause.
The blaze erupted near the world's
tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa,
where crowds had gathered to watch
the fireworks display.
Up to two million people were expected
in central Dubai for the festivities.
People have been asked to leave the
area around the Address Hotel, which
has been evacuated.
Flames rapidly engulfed much of the
building, a five-star hotel and
apartment complex with more than 60
storeys, within 10 minutes.
The Dubai government tweeted (in
Arabic) that the fire had started on the
20th floor and has now been mostly
been extinguished.
However eyewitnesses say the fire is
still raging despite the speedy
response of the emergency services.
Read more @: Fire engulfs Dubai hotel ahead of new year celebrations - BBC News

 

[iSK]

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