New Year’s Eve skyscraper fire in Dubai burns on into 2016

A towering inferno that engulfed a 63-storey luxury hotel in Dubai on New Year’s Eve burned on into the first morning of 2016 as firefighters tried to douse the flames Friday.

The blaze at the Address Downtown, one of the most upscale hotels and residences in Dubai, comes after a series of fires striking the towers that provide this megacity its futuristic skyline.

While Dubai officials said only 14 people suffered minor injuries in evacuating the building late Thursday night, the fire raised new questions about building safety for those living in the United Arab Emirates.

The fire started around 9:30 p.m. Thursday, racing up the sides of the building and sending thick smoke over the skyline. Authorities still conducted a midnight fireworks show at the nearby Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.

More than 12 hours later on Friday morning, Dubai firefighters largely watched the fire from the ground, unable at one point to use a water hose on a ladder truck. They later regained water pressure and began spraying the building. Restaurants nearby opened for business, but served limited menus as civil defence officials cut natural gas to the area.