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Dubai skyscraper ablaze near New Year's Eve fireworks Dubai skyscraper ablaze near New Year's Eve fireworks
(35 minutes later)
Fire has broken out in a residential building near Dubai’s massive New Year’s Eve fireworks display. Fire has broken out in a hotel building near Dubai’s massive New Year’s Eve fireworks display, but a civil defence official has said there are no known injuries.
It was not immediately clear what caused the fire, which ran up at least 20 storeys of the building near the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper. It was not immediately clear what caused the fire, which ran up at least 20 storeys of the Address Downtown hotel near the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa. Burning debris rained down from the building as fire engines raced to the scene.
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, Associated Press reported. But Maj Gen Rashed al-Matrushi, general director of the Dubai civil defence, told the television channel Al Arabiya that no one had been hurt and that Dubai’s new year celebrations would go ahead.
Dubai police said the fire was only along the exterior of the hotel and had not yet spread inside, adding that four firefighting teams were on the scene attempting to control the blaze. “There are no injuries, thank God ... of course, it will not affect the celebration,” Reuters quoted him as saying.
Dubai police said four firefighting teams were on the scene attempting to control the blaze which was along the exterior of the hotel and had not spread inside.
@cnnbrk address hotel in Dubai next to Burj Khalifa on fire pic.twitter.com/LzzkAYpIy2@cnnbrk address hotel in Dubai next to Burj Khalifa on fire pic.twitter.com/LzzkAYpIy2
Reports identified the building as the Address Downtown hotel, which lies on a boulevard in central Dubai, a stone’s throw from the Burj Khalifa, and Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping mall. The hotel is 63 storeys high. The 63-storey-high Address Downtown hotel lies on a boulevard in central Dubai, close to the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping mall.
Dubai had planned to wow spectators with three separate firework displays. The show was to begin at the Burj Khalifa, which organisers said was fitted with 400,000 LED lights.Dubai had planned to wow spectators with three separate firework displays. The show was to begin at the Burj Khalifa, which organisers said was fitted with 400,000 LED lights.
From there, the fireworks were to light up the sky around the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab and later down near the Dubai Marina. From there, the fireworks were to light up the sky around the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab and later down near the Dubai marina. The organisers said 1.6 tonnes of fireworks would be used in the display.
The organisers said 1.6 tonnes of fireworks would be used in the display. . @DXBMediaOffice: New Year celebrations in Dubai will continue as scheduled #MyDubaiNewYear
Last year, Dubai broke the world record for the largest fireworks display on New Year’s Eve, releasing 479,651 shells during the midnight pyrotechnic show.Last year, Dubai broke the world record for the largest fireworks display on New Year’s Eve, releasing 479,651 shells during the midnight pyrotechnic show.