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Dubai's Torch Tower catches fire for second time in two years | Dubai's Torch Tower catches fire for second time in two years |
(2 days later) | |
A large blaze has ripped through one of the largest residential buildings in the world, the Torch Tower in Dubai. | A large blaze has ripped through one of the largest residential buildings in the world, the Torch Tower in Dubai. |
Flames shot up the side of the skyscraper, sending debris tumbling from the 337m (1,106 ft) structure. | Flames shot up the side of the skyscraper, sending debris tumbling from the 337m (1,106 ft) structure. |
One resident told Reuters people were screaming as they woke to the late-night blaze before having to flee. | One resident told Reuters people were screaming as they woke to the late-night blaze before having to flee. |
The authorities said all inside were safely evacuated and the fire brought under control at about 03:40 local time (23:40 GMT). | The authorities said all inside were safely evacuated and the fire brought under control at about 03:40 local time (23:40 GMT). |
"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. | "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. |
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. | 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. |
By daybreak, the building had been left badly damaged and vehicles in the vicinity destroyed. | By daybreak, the building had been left badly damaged and vehicles in the vicinity destroyed. |
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, Dubai | The Torch Tower, Dubai |
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