Hundreds evacuated as fire engulfs Dubai's 79-storey Torch residential tower
Hundreds of panicked residents fled one of the tallest towers in Dubai on Saturday as a huge fire engulfed the skyscraper, causing extensive damage to its luxury flats.
Hundreds of panicked residents fled one of the tallest towers in Dubai yesterday as a huge fire engulfed the skyscraper, causing extensive damage to its luxury flats.
The inferno gutted the upper part of 79-storey Torch tower, triggering an evacuation of nearby blocks in the Dubai Marina neighbourhood.
Amateur footage posted online showed fire engulfing the upper floors of the tower - home to hundreds of expatriates -- with debris falling onto the road as strong winds fanned the flames.
WATCH: Amateur video shows fiery debris falling down the Torch in Dubai
Civil defence teams cleared the building, which at 336.1 metres is the fifth tallest residential tower in the world.
No casualties were reported but seven people were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.
A civil defence department statement said the fire swept across the tower's façade, affecting 20 storeys.
Watch: Aftermath of Dubai residential tower fire
Firefighters battled the blaze for more than two hours, before hundreds of residents of nearby towers were allowed to return to their apartments. 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.
Some residents said they had been told by staff that the building's fire alarms did not immediately sound and the reception at The Torch was alerted to the fire by staff in an adjacent building.
Dubai Marina is a popular expat neighbourhood.
