A residential skyscraper has caught fire in Dubai, prompting the authorities to evacuate the apartment block and cordon off the area. The flames spread to at least 30 levels of the 75-story building.
Image: Reuters
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Firefighters managed to put out the fire at the Sulafa tower after three hours, Dubai Media Office tweeted on Wednesday, adding that no injuries had been reported.
Witnesses on the scene described burning pieces of the building floating down from the building in the upscale Marina neighborhood. Firefighters could be seen on some of the balconies trying to reach the flames.
Police have cordoned off the area and all of the tenants were evacuated.
There was no immediate information on the cause of the fire.
Image: Reuters/A. Jadallah
'Almost explosions'
Nora Maki, a resident of the building from across the street, said the flames "spread like wildfire" but that firefighters "did an amazing job" of getting it under control.
"It was really scary," Maki said. "You could hear almost explosions ... and there was debris flying around."
The flames damaged more than 30 stories of the building.
The oil-rich Emirates have seen several of their world-famous skyscrapers catch fire in recent years. Most notably, a fire injured 16 people in the luxury Address Downtown hotel on New Year's Eve, the 63-story building located near the world's tallest tower, the Burj Khalifa. Police blamed the incident on faulty wiring.
Torch Tower, also in Marina, was damaged by fire in February. The blaze destroyed luxury apartments in the 79-story building and prompted evacuation of the area.
dj/kl (AFP, AP, Reuters)
The sky's the limit
The Shanghai Tower's base structure recently reached its maximum height of 580 meters, thus becoming the world's second-tallest building. It seems the sky is the limit in the race for the highest skyscraper.
Image: picture-alliance/ZB
The new number-two
The Shanghai Tower's core structure has reached its highest point of 580 meters. By the time of its inauguration in 2015, the building is set to rise 632 meters off the ground, making it the world's second tallest building after Dubai's Burj Khalifa.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Chinese triplets
The Shanghai Tower is located in the city's financial district of Pudong Lujiazui. Along with the World Financial Center and Jinmao Tower, the newly erected structure dominates the city's skyline, dwarfing the surrounding buildings.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
First, second, third
The Taipei 101 skyscraper, located in Taiwan's capital, was inaugurated in December 2004. It held the world record for the tallest building until 2009 and as the world's second tallest until August, 2013. However, it still holds the record for having the fastest elevator. A ride from the ground level to the top floor takes less than a minute.
Image: picture alliance/Chromorange
Twins
In 2004, the Petronas Twin Towers, located in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, were overtaken by Taipei 101 as the world's highest structure. However, they remain the world's tallest twin towers to this day.
Image: AP
A classic
Before the Petronas Twin Towers, the world's tallest buildings were in the United States. New York's Empire State Building was the undisputed champion for 41 years. It is still considered to be the prototype for skyscrapers.
Image: STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images
German 'Wolkenkratzer'
Germany's Wolkenkratzer (literally: 'cloud-scraper') can be found in Frankfurt am Main. Rising 259 meters (300 including the antenna) off the ground, the Commerzbank Tower is not even among the world's 100 tallest skyscrapers.
Image: Fotolia/Max Diesel
The defending champion
In July 2007, three years before its official inauguration, Dubai's Burj Khalifa took over the title of the world's tallest building from Taipei 101. Its spectacular height has also allowed it to set other records such as the world’s longest elevator ride and the highest restaurant.
