REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DUBAI -- A fire has engulfed The Address Hotel in downtown Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) hours before a large fireworks display was set to start nearby from the world's largest building. The fire was injuring at least 16 people.
"A fire has been reported in the Address Downtown hotel. Authorities are currently on-site to address the incident swiftly and safely," said Dubai Government's media office in a tweet, as reported in ABC Online.
It said the blaze had started on the 20th floor on the outside of the tower and that internal fire-fighting systems were operating. There have been no deaths as a result of the fire but at least 16 people have been injured.
"At least 14 people have been slightly injured, along with one medium injury, and a heart attack case registered due to people pushing amid the smoke," it stated,
It added that no children were among those hurt and four fire brigade teams were at the site. Witnesses near the building said huge flames were seen billowing from the hotel where people were gathering to watch New Year's Eve celebrations.
"First of all there was a black stream of smoke, big black smoke but then we saw orange flames which came up extremely quickly and engulfed the whole tower," said Michelle Duque, a tourist in Dubai.
Images aired on the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya news channel showed a high-rise building with fire engulfing dozens of storeys. Dubai authorities said earlier they had deployed thousands of security personnel to ensure visitors and residents could enjoy the new year's festivities safely.
Despite the blaze a spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks display lit up the sky, centred on the iconic Burj Khalifa tower, close to where the huge fire started just hours earlier. The display was most elaborate at the 828-metre Burj, where blasts of colour and light exploded as the clock struck midnight.
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