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Dubai's Torch Tower on fire again Dubai's Torch Tower catches fire for second time in two years
(about 4 hours later)
A large fire has ripped through a residential 79-storey skyscraper in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates - for the second time in two years. A large blaze has ripped through one of the largest residential buildings in the world, the Torch Tower in Dubai.
Footage posted on social media showed flames spreading up the Torch Tower and burning debris falling to the streets. Flames shot up the side of the skyscraper, sending debris tumbling from the 337m (1,106 ft) structure.
The authorities later said that civil defence workers "successfully evacuated" the building and the blaze was brought under control. One resident told Reuters people were screaming as they woke to the late-night blaze before having to flee.
It is not clear what caused the fire in one of the world's tallest buildings. The authorities said all inside were safely evacuated and the fire brought under control at about 03:40 local time (23:40 GMT).
The blaze, which rose quickly, was brought under control by the Dubai Civil Defence at about 03:40 local time (23:40 GMT) having broken out hours earlier, the government of Dubai's media office said. "Thank God, there were no casualties because of the efforts of all teams on the ground," Dubai Police chief Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri said.
How are fires fought in high-rise blocks? It is not clear what caused the fire in the 79-storey skyscraper, but it is the second blaze to hit the building in two years.
Witnesses posted photos and video footage on social media showing flames rapidly climbing up the exterior of the 337m (1,106 ft) tall building. By daybreak, the building had been left badly damaged and vehicles in the vicinity destroyed.
Images on Friday also showed damaged vehicles in the vicinity of the fire.
One eyewitness, Dina, tweeted that she woke to the sound of emergency services arriving at the scene before discovering "another fire at the Torch".
Cara Spillane, who said that she lives in the area but is currently away on holiday, wrote that what she saw on social media was "terrifying".
"Because of the efforts of all teams on the ground, the residents were evacuated from this building to another one and there were no injuries," Dubai police chief Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri said.
The government media office said "cooling operations were under way".The government media office said "cooling operations were under way".
The Torch Tower was damaged by an earlier blaze in 2015, which resulted in the evacuation of hundreds of people.The Torch Tower was damaged by an earlier blaze in 2015, which resulted in the evacuation of hundreds of people.
That fire, and other recent blazes in the city, spread quickly because of external cladding, according to fire engineering consultancy Tenable Dubai.That fire, and other recent blazes in the city, spread quickly because of external cladding, according to fire engineering consultancy Tenable Dubai.
But they did not result in fatalities because the design and construction of the buildings allowed firefighters to battle the blaze and residents to evacuate via smoke-free, fire-free safety zones, the group says.But they did not result in fatalities because the design and construction of the buildings allowed firefighters to battle the blaze and residents to evacuate via smoke-free, fire-free safety zones, the group says.
The Torch Tower, DubaiThe Torch Tower, Dubai
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Are you in Dubai? Did you witness the fire? If it's safe to share your experiences then please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.Are you in Dubai? Did you witness the fire? If it's safe to share your experiences then please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.
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