A huge fire has engulfed part of a luxury Dubai hotel, near where revellers had gathered to watch a New Year’s Eve fireworks display.
The inferno lit up the side of the Address Downtown hotel near the centre of the city, scattering bystanders and shoppers in a nearby mall. The Dubai government said one person had a heart attack as a result of the smoke and the rush to get out of the building. One person was described as moderately injured and 14 people were said to have suffered minor injuries.
The massive fireworks display later went ahead at the world’s tallest tower in Dubai, while plumes of smoke still billowed from the nearby fire.
Tens of thousands of people whistled and cheered at the display taking place at the Burj Khalifa.
Maj Gen Rashed al-Matrushi, general director of the Dubai civil defence, reportedly told the television channel Al Arabiya earlier: “There are no injuries, thank God ... Of course, it will not affect the celebration.”
The Dubai police said the blaze started on the 20th floor of the building, which is also a residential address. Footage taken by witnesses and uploaded to the internet shows huge flames rapidly climbing the hotel’s exterior from what appeared to be a terrace or balcony.
The flames appeared to have soared to near the top of the building within seconds. More than one hour after the fire started, it still appeared to be out of control.
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