Hundreds of people in the Gulf emirate of Dubai were evacuated from one of the world's tallest residential buildings on Saturday when fire swept through The Torch, a 79-storey skyscraper, residents said.
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A witness said flames shot out from two sides of the building as glass and metal rained down from near the summit of the structure, which stands more than 330 metres tall.
Residents said the fire started on the 50th floor and spread to the 70th floor, Gulf News reported.
Praying that the fire doesn't spread any further
#torchdubai
pic.twitter.com/EQnCmMUCq5 — Rhea Saran (@Really_Rhea)
February 20, 2015
Massive blaze engulfs Dubai's Torch Tower: Dubai's Marina Torch, one of the world's tallest apartment building...
http://t.co/TXrs4oRIus — Silicon Angel (@SiliconAngel)
February 21, 2015
Medics said there were no casualties. At least a dozen fire trucks were able to extinguish the blaze several hours after the fire alarm went off about 2am local time (9am AEST).
However, some residents said they had been told by staff that the building's fire alarms did not immediately sound and that the reception at The Torch was alerted to the fire by staff in an adjacent building.
"They [the Torch receptionists] got a call from Princess Tower telling them the building was on fire. The alarms were not operating automatically," Archibald Jurdi, who lives on the 76th floor, told Reuters.
حريق في مبنى تورش تاور
#دبي
#مارينا
pic.twitter.com/Q3acd2TxFm — رامي القاضي (@RaMiAlGaDi)
February 20, 2015
Residents said the fire had been fanned by high winds, dislodging chunks of metal and raining glass down on the area below the building, including onto a nearby road more than 100 metres away.
Traffic in the area was diverted and residents of two other nearby buildings in the emirate's Marina district, home to thousands of expatriate professionals, were also evacuated, the witness said.
Many of those standing outside the building were dressed in pyjamas, with others in evening dress as they returned from the city's many bars and restaurants on a weekend.
One woman, who did not give her name, stood on the street crying, saying she had rushed back fearing for her belongings after a friend contacted her about the fire. Her fear turned to relief when she saw the lower floors where she lived were not affected.
Residents of neighbouring towers were returning to their homes about 4.30am local time, but residents of The Torch were told they would not be allowed back into the building until the fire officials gave approval later on Saturday. Residents of upper floors that were most affected were told it would be days before they could return.
The tower has 504 apartment units including four duplex apartment suites and is located close to the city's business district.
Dubai civil defence officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and the cause of the fire remained unclear.
Dubai, known for its skyline of skyscrapers, has seen fires at towers in the past.
In 2012, a huge blaze gutted the 34-storey Tamweel tower in the nearby Jumeirah Lake Towers district. It was later revealed to have been caused by a cigarette butt thrown into a bin.
Reuters
