Massive fire engulfs Dubai hotel near world's tallest skyscraper
At 9:30 p.m. local time on Thursday, a terrifying multi-story blaze broke out at a hotel in Dubai close the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper at 905 yards (828 meters), where a massive fireworks show is slated to take place to ring in the new year.
Immediately, onlookers began posting that the Address skyscraper was engulfed in flames reaching up over a dozen stories.
It is still unclear if anyone has been injured by the fire, but burning debris can be seen raining down from the building as firetrucks race to the scene. A crowd of onlookers gathered to watch the inferno, but were asked to leave, according to the BBC.
Several people uploaded videos of the fire.
Dubai planned to wow spectators with three separate firework displays. The show was to begin at the Burj Khalifa, which organizers said was fitted with 400,000 LED lights. They said 1.6 tons of fireworks would be used in the display.
From there, the fireworks were to light up the sky around the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab and later down near the Dubai Marina. Fireworks also will be on display in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the country of seven emirates.
An official from the Dubai Civil Defence told Gulfnews.com that, "three teams are battling the flames, and they almost have it under control," adding that the hotel had been evacuated.
"There are no injuries, thank God," Major General Rashed al-Matrushi, general director of the Dubai Civil Defence, told the pan-Arab television channel Al Arabiya, according to Reuters.
"Of course, it will not affect the celebration," Matrushi continued.
A fire has been reported in the Address Downtown hotel. Authorities are currently on-site to address the incident swiftly and safely #Dubai- Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) December 31, 2015
The Associated Press posted this video of the blaze: