The fire broke out at about 2am on Saturday in the 86-storey Torch tower on the northeast end of the densely populated district, which is packed with multi-storey skyscrapers.
High winds whipped through the area and debris from the fire cluttered nearby streets after the blaze appeared to be extinguished.
The civil defence officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there were no reports of deaths or injuries.
The cause of the fire was not immediately clear.
The Marina area is home to dozens of towering apartment blocks and hotels, many of them built over the past decade. The apartments are popular with Dubai's large number of expatriate professionals.
Police blocked off areas around the 336 metre-high Torch tower, which still had power. Lights were on in many of the apartments inside and multiple fire trucks and police vehicles were on the scene.
Residents of at least one neighbouring tower were told to evacuate as a precaution because of strong winds, but they were later allowed back inside.
One witness said the fire started in the middle of the tower before spreading down, describing it as like "the Titanic going down". Flaming material falling from the initial fire then set a lower part of the building ablaze, witnesses said.
Rescue efforts
Torch tower resident Steve Short, 53, of Liverpool, England, praised the work of firefighters who arrived quickly. He said fire alarms alerted residents to the blaze and building management sent workers knocking on doors to ensure residents got out.
Resident RJ Morlock, 33, of Houston, shot video on his phone that showed bright yellow flames reaching what appeared to be several stories on two separate parts of the building. He said residents were nervous coming out but fire crews were able to bring the situation under control.
"I was really surprised they got it under control pretty quickly," he said. "It looked like it was going to go up."
As daylight broke, residents waiting across the street to be allowed back home were able to see the extent of the blaze: External cladding on the corner of more than two dozen stories from roughly the 50th floor to the top were mangled and charred black.
Cleanup crews dressed in orange uniforms swept up pieces of shattered glass and other debris covering the street outside the building.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/02/thousands-evacuated-fire-engulfs-dubai-tower-150221012315584.html
21/2/15
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A huge fire engulfed one of the tallest towers of the Gulf emirate of Dubai early Saturday, an AFP correspondent reported....
ReplyDeleteThe blaze has gutted the upper part of The Torch residential skyscraper, which stands 336.1-metre (1,105-feet) high, triggering an evacuation of nearby towers in the Dubai Marina neighbourhood, according to the correspondent.
No deaths have been reported so far, with the blaze brought under control and hundreds of residents of the nearby towers allowed to return to their apartments.
The fire began at the 50th floor of the 79-floor tower, the Gulf News daily said on its website citing a resident, adding that people were being rescued with smoke inhalation injuries.
Amateur footage posted online showed fire sweeping through the upper floors of the tower with debris falling onto the road as strong winds fanned the flames.
Dubai, known for its skyline of hugely varied skyscrapers, has seen fires at towers in the past.
In 2012, a huge blaze gutted the 34-Tamweel tower in the nearby Jumeirah Lake Towers district. It was later revealed to have been caused by a cigarette butt thrown into a bin.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/123524.aspx
21/2/15