A Huge New Year’s Eve Fire Engulfed A Dubai Skyscraper Near The Burj Khalifa

Terrifying images of a massive Dubai skyscraper engulfed in flames are coming fast and furious this New Year’s Eve.

The city’s 991-foot tall Address hotel fell victim to a roaring blaze ahead of a planned New Year’s Eve fireworks celebration nearby. The Associated Press reports how burning debris rained down from the building as firetrucks headed to the scene. The fire began around 10 p.m. local time and is believed to have touched at least twenty stories of the building. Despite the incredibly dangerous situation, Al Arabiya has spoken with a civil defense official, who says no one was injured in the fire:

The hotel is located in close proximity to the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper. At this stage, the cause of the fire is not yet clear, but the Government of Dubai’s media office has tweeted that the blaze started on the 20th floor.

Tourist Michelle Duque spoke with the BBC and provided her eyewitness account of the scene unfolding before her.

“All of a sudden we saw this huge black plume of black smoke coming between the Khalifa Tower and the hotel.”

“The flames burst out really big and before we knew it the whole of the Address Hotel was covered in orange flames.”

Pictures and video of the hotel fire have been in steady supply on Twitter and YouTube.

Despite the towering inferno on the Dubai skyline, the city’s media office reports that all New Year’s Eve celebrations will continue as planned.

(via BBC)

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