The 69-storey skyscraper was evacuated and the Dubai government's media office said the blaze was 90% under control by midnight.
Fire engulfed the luxury Address Downtown Dubai hotel and residential block on Thursday night, just a few hundred metres away from the 160-storey Burj Khalifa tower where people were gathered for fireworks to mark the New Year.
The 69-storey skyscraper was evacuated and the Dubai government's media office said the blaze was 90% under control by midnight, therefore authorities decided to go ahead with the planned New Year's fireworks display at the world's tallest building.
The Dubai media office also stated that the blaze began on the 20th floor of The Address at about 9.30pm, on the outside of the 300-metre tower, and that internal fire-fighting systems were operating to try to prevent it getting inside the hotel.
Meanwhile, the Dubai Waterfront was evacuated with many people moved into The Dubai Mall.
As of Friday morning (New Year's Day), civil defence teams were working to put out the remnants of the fire. By 8am the majority had been extinguished, but smoke still shrouded the building and flames were visible from a small section of the tower.
Government sources say about 16 people sustained minor injuries in the blaze and one person suffered a heart attack.
Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing has said it will provide rooms for guests evacuated from The Address.
Colonel Saif Al Mazrouei, director of traffic department at the Dubai Police, said the fire was accidental.
| Advertisement |
Search our database of more than 2,700 industry companies
