A huge fire engulfed the 63-storey Address Hotel in downtown Dubai hours before the New Year, leaving 14 injured and 2 suffering from a heart attack. Several explosions were heard as the massive blaze spread quickly, damaging most floors in the hotel.
The hotel was very near the Burj Khalifa, and despite the blaze the firework display at the Burj Khalifa was conducted as planned.
14 minor injuries,1 moderate&1 heart attack case reported due 2 over-crowding&smoke at the fire site,all received prompts medical assistance
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) December 31, 2015The left side of the hotel is completely gone," Al Jazeera's Diana al-Rifai reported from the scene. "There was a minor stampede - panic set in and people ran away." The fire reportedly broke out at 9 30PM local time, and within 10 minutes the entire left-side of the structure was ablaze.
Dubai’s media office said that the fire started in the 20th floor. CNN reported that it was a curtain which caught fire first.
Several thousand people were out on the streets in downtown Dubai for New Year festivities.