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Fire engulfs Dubai high-rise hotel | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A huge fire has engulfed a high-rise hotel in central Dubai near the world's tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa. | |
Burning debris could be seen falling from the 300m-tall (1,000-feet) building. The government says there are minor injuries and most of the fire is under control. | |
The blaze erupted ahead of a major New Year's Eve fireworks display, due to be held at the Burj Khalifa. | The blaze erupted ahead of a major New Year's Eve fireworks display, due to be held at the Burj Khalifa. |
There is no indication so far as to the cause of the blaze. | |
Up to two million people are expected in central Dubai for the fireworks. Crowds gathering to watch the display have been asked to leave the area around the Address Hotel. | |
Officials insist that the New Year celebrations will continue as scheduled. | Officials insist that the New Year celebrations will continue as scheduled. |
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. | |
A tourist, Michelle Duque told the BBC: "All of a sudden we saw this huge black plume of black smoke coming between the Khalifa Tower and the hotel. | A tourist, Michelle Duque told the BBC: "All of a sudden we saw this huge black plume of black smoke coming between the Khalifa Tower and the hotel. |
"The flames burst out really big and before we knew it the whole of the Address Hotel was covered in orange flames." | "The flames burst out really big and before we knew it the whole of the Address Hotel was covered in orange flames." |
Another tourist told the BBC that she saw lot of debris coming down from the building. | Another tourist told the BBC that she saw lot of debris coming down from the building. |
"The problem is millions of people inside the Burj Khalifa cannot move anywhere because we [are] kind of waiting for the fireworks display." | "The problem is millions of people inside the Burj Khalifa cannot move anywhere because we [are] kind of waiting for the fireworks display." |
Are you in Dubai? Are you affected? If you have any information to share with the BBC, you can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in Dubai? Are you affected? If you have any information to share with the BBC, you can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |