Fire engulfs half of Dubai’s famous Torch Tower

Image: Arab News / YouTube

A huge fire has broken out at Dubai’s Torch Tower, one of the world’s tallest residential buildings, in a frightening reminder of London’s Grenfell Tower disaster.

Video on social media shows the 86-floor tower at the Dubai Marina aflame, with people running from the building.

The tower and surrounding area is popular with holidaymakers and residents of the UAE city, which is a key stopover spot for Australians travelling to and from Europe.

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Reports said the fire had engulfed one side of the building, after breaking out near the top of the tower just before 1am local time.

Torch tower in Dubai burning… one of the tallest residential buildings in the world… pic.twitter.com/b5RlRsYK8J

— Nona Kichukova (@nonakichukova) August 3, 2017

Another resident, John O’Nolan, tweeted that although some of the flames had been doused, new fires were erupting on the other side of the tower. The surrounding buildings were glowing from the strength of the flames, he tweeted.

Took this photo a few days ago – this is the tower which is on fire. It’s huge. pic.twitter.com/R5ZnPbZBg5

— John O’Nolan @ 🇦🇪 (@JohnONolan) August 3, 2017

The reports said that the tower housed almost 700 apartments. A fire broke out at the same building in 2015 but it was brought under control with no fatalities.

According to BBC News, Dubai authorities say civil defence officials have successfully evacuated the building and are now working to

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