The Torch tower in Dubai, one of the world’s tallest residential skyscrapers, was having its cladding replaced before a fire broke out on the 65th floor. The fire, which started in the early hours of Friday morning, was the second in two years in the 1,100ft, 86-storey building.
It took hold on the outside of the tower, showering the streets with burning debris.
Several fires in Dubai have been linked to materials coating the buildings, some of which are similar to the panels that caught fire at Grenfell Tower in west London in June.
At least 250 high-rise buildings in Dubai use similar potentially flammable cladding with a plastic core, according to local media.
The blaze broke out at about 1am, Dubai Civil Defence said. Flames quickly engulfed at least 40 floors on the southwest side of the building, which overlooks the marina water front. Burning debris landed on cars parked below, causing smaller fires. Alarms alerted residents, and staff knocked on doors to speed up the evacuation of all 676 flats.
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Alireza Aletomeh, who lives in the building, said it took him more than two hours to get out using the stairs because of the crush of people trying to leave. One woman passed out in the stairway, he said, although officials said no one was injured.
“You never think it’s going to happen to you,” Mr Aletomeh said. “I had cash in there, furniture, paintings . . . Many things that are valuable to me.”
Reconstruction work from the fire in February 2015, thought to have been caused by an electrical fault, had not yet been completed. An investigation into that blaze suggested that the cladding may also have played a role.
Dubai has passed new fire safety rules requiring buildings to replace quick-burning panelling with more fire-resistant materials, after a string of fires. At least 30,000 buildings across the United Arab Emirates were found to have had cladding or panelling that would accelerate the spread of fires.
Dubai Civil Defence said firefighters had brought the latest blaze under control at 3.30am and that cooling operations were under way.
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By last night the streets had been cleared of debris, but the tower remained closed to residents, some of whom were moved to a nearby block. Officials said they were working on providing shelter for those affected and assessing the damage.