Fire engulf Dubai hotel near Burj Khalifa ahead of New Year fireworks
A huge fire has engulfed a 63-storey hotel in central Dubai ahead of a New Year's Eve firework display.
Advertisement
Despite the blaze at the Address hotel, the display at the nearby Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, started as planned at midnight.
Officials said the fire has been brought largely under control and 16 people suffered mostly minor injures.
It is unclear what caused the blaze, which broke out as large crowds had gathered to ring in the new year.
People were asked to leave the area around the Address Downtown Hotel, which was evacuated.
The fire broke out at about 21:30 local time (17:30 GMT) and appeared to engulf much of the building, a five-star hotel and apartment complex, within 10 minutes.
It started on the 20th floor, officials said, and had not spread inside the building, they claimed.
The Dubai government tweeted that 14 people had suffered minor injuries, one moderate injuries and there was one "heart a
