Hundreds evacuated as fire engulfs Dubai's 79-storey Torch residential tower
PUBLISHED : Saturday, 21 February, 2015, 12:00pm
UPDATED : Saturday, 21 February, 2015, 1:47pm
Reuters in Dubai
A fire blazes at "The Torch", a residential high-rise tower, in Dubai. Photo: Reuters
Hundreds of people in Dubai were evacuated from one of the world’s tallest residential buildings on Saturday when fire swept through The Torch, a 79-storey skyscraper.
A witness said flames shot out from two sides of the building as glass and metal rained down from near the summit of the structure, which stands more than 330 metres tall.
Medics said there were no casualties. At least a dozen fire trucks were able to extinguish the blaze several hours after the fire alarm went off around 2am local time.
Resident R.J. 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.
“I was really surprised [firefighters] got it under control pretty quickly. It looked like it was going to go up,” he said.
However, some residents said they had been told by staff that the building’s fire alarms did not immediately sound and that the reception at The Torch was alerted to the fire by staff in an adjacent building.
“[The Torch receptionists] got a call from Princess Tower telling them the building was on fire. The alarms were not operating automatically,” Archibald Jurdi, who lives on the 76th floor.
The building manager could not be reached for comment.
WATCH: Amateur video shows fiery debris falling down the Torch in Dubai
One of the residents, 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.
Residents said the fire had been fanned by high winds, dislodging chunks of metal and raining glass down on the area below the building, including onto a nearby road more than 100 metres away.
Two residents said they were told the fire started around the 52nd floor. Flaming material falling from the initial fire then set a lower part of the building ablaze, they said.
Traffic in the area was diverted and residents of two other nearby buildings in the emirate’s Marina district, home to thousands of expatriate professionals, were also evacuated, the witness said.
Many of those standing outside the building were dressed in pyjamas, with others in evening dress as they returned from the city’s many bars and restaurants on a weekend.
One woman, who did not give her name, stood on the street crying, saying she had rushed back fearing for her belongings after a friend contacted her about the fire. Her fear turned to relief when she saw the lower floors where she lived were not affected.
Residents of neighbouring towers were returning to their homes around 4.30 local time, but residents of The Torch were told they would not be allowed back into the building until the fire officials gave approval later on Saturday.
Residents of upper floors that were most affected were told it would be days before they could return.
Dubai civil defence officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and the cause of the fire remained unclear.
Dubai is one of seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, a Gulf Arab trade and investment hub.
