A massive blaze has consumed the Address hotel in Dubai, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, just hours before citizens and tourists began celebrating the New Year.
It it not yet clear whether the inferno has claimed any victims.
News of the fire, which is believed to have started at 9:30pm local time, spread quickly on Twitter and Periscope, where people nearby shared images of the fire that quickly engulfed much of the 63-story luxury hotel.
Massive fire at The Address hotel in #Dubai: (via @khaleejtimes) pic.twitter.com/PzLtc4kmFF
— Alejandro Alvarez 🫡 (@aletweetsnews) December 31, 2015
Live on #Periscope is a 60 storey 5 Star hotel in Dubai on fire near the Tallest Building in the World! @dearsina pic.twitter.com/nWXgrGG8iO
— Chad Dixon 🇺🇦 🇵🇸🕊️🙏💙 (@lapswood8) December 31, 2015
https://twitter.com/ReutersLive/status/682626267712065537
Dubai building ablaze near NYE fireworks display location https://t.co/Oe6NdXlJGH pic.twitter.com/OtW5Kdi0Bf
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) December 31, 2015
Address hotel downtown Dubai has caught fire…pls pray everyone, there must lots of people inside. Can’t believe it pic.twitter.com/GAxmWnjDiN
— sushmita sen (@thesushmitasen) December 31, 2015
https://twitter.com/Caroline1mcd/status/682625279542431744
The Address was reportedly just about to begin its New Year’s Eve fireworks display, but it is not yet clear whether the blaze is related to that event.
The hotel is located in downtown Dubai, near the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.
Update 1:46pm CT, Dec. 31: Officials in Dubai say the fire is now 90 percent under control.
المكتب الإعلامي لحكومة دبي: السيطرة على 90% من الحريق في فندق العنوان داون تاون على أن يتم السيطرة على الحريق بالكامل خلال نصف ساعة
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) December 31, 2015
One person is said to have suffered a heart attack, and 14 people are said to have suffered minor injuries and one person suffered a moderate injury, according to officials. No serious injuries have been reported so far, though medical emergency teams are checking hotel guests.
DHA is on-site getting everything under control by checking on everyone’s safety pic.twitter.com/D70Zo3GnBN
— هيئة الصحة بدبي (@DHA_Dubai) December 31, 2015
Update 1:53pm CT, Dec. 31: Watch live news coverage of the fire below:
This story is developing.
Screengrab via Google Street View
