Dubai’s Torch Tower hit by another blaze

Skyscraper: Second outbreak at residential tower block

Firefighters have put out a blaze in one of the world’s tallest residential towers, which engulfed part of the skyscraper in Dubai and sent chunks of debris plummeting below, city authorities said.

At the height of the fire, more than 40 floors of the 86-storey Torch Tower were burning on one side of the building, an Associated Press journalist near the scene said.

Residents could be seen on the street outside, crying, with several saying the fire broke out just after 1am local time yesterday. Dubai’s Civil Defence announced at about 3.30am that firefighters had brought the flames under control and that no injuries had been reported. “Cooling operations are under way,” Dubai’s official media office said on Twitter.

It was the second time in two and a half years that the more than 1,100ft-tall (335m) tower has been ravaged by fire.

The tower, located in the popular waterfront Marina district, caught fire in February 2015, but there were no major casualties reported in that blaze.

Early yesterday, authorities shared a photo of the blackened tower but it was no longer visibly in flames. Officials said they were now working on providing shelter for those affected.

Earlier this year, Dubai passed new fire safety rules requiring buildings with quick-burning side panelling to replace it with more fire-resistant material.

Cooling operations are under way. DUBAI MEDIA OFFICE

Picture: Getty. Firefighters brought the flames under control and there were no injuries reported.