Dubai's record-breaking 1,100ft Torch Tower 'full of expats' bursts into horrific flames Fire 'spread rapidly' through a skyscraper in Dubai's world-famous Marina in the early hours of this morning.
Alarming footage showed flames climbing up the 79-storey Torch Tower, a residential building popular with expats in the United Arab Emirates tourism hotspot. Burning debris could be seen spiraling down ground below as firefighters desperately tackled the blaze. The same skyscraper was devastated by fire in 2015 and the building's flammable cladding, was similar to that used in Grenfell Tower, was blamed for fuelling the flames. Horrified Dubai residents and tourists shared photos and videos of the flaming debris falling from the building. Rob Shepherd tweeted: 'Another major fire just broken out at Torch Tower Dubai friends and relatives just escaping now.'Cara Spillane added: Terrifying to see Torch Tower, in the area I live in on fire now. Hope everyone gets out OK.''Fire further spreading, reaching the parked cars', wrote Sabine Abu Sabaa. The Dubai Media Office confirmed the civil defence was tackling the fire and no injuries had yet been reported. Dubai Police Commander in Chief & Dubai Civil Defence Director General on site following measures to control the fire at the Torch Tower. No injuries have been reported so far. Dubai Police will be handling inquiries related to the fire and those affected by it through the emergency number.'The cause of the fire is not yet known but civil defence officials said they had 'successfully evacuated' the building and were investigating. The Torch Tower is the fifth tallest residential building in the world and stands at more than 330 metres (1,105 ft). It became the tallest residential building in the world in 2011 but lost the record the following year neighbouring Princess Tower. In February 2015 hundreds of residents were evacuated from the same building after it was engulfed in flames in the early hours of the morning.
