10 to 15 storeys of Dubai's Sulafa Tower appeared to have been charred in the blaze.
Highlights
- This the fifth blaze in a skyscraper in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates
- Flames may have been encouraged to spread by flammable exterior cladding
- The UAE had revised its building safety code in 2013
Fire broke out at a 75-storey residential tower in Dubai today, Reuters witnesses said, the fifth blaze in a skyscraper in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates in recent years.
Flames leapt out of windows toward the top of the Sulafa tower in the upscale Marina district, and 10 to 15 storeys appeared to have been charred.
Burning debris floated toward the ground and firefighters approached the site with sirens blaring.
In March, a fire broke out at a residential tower in the nearby Emirate of Ajman.
On New Year's Eve, a blaze hit a landmark downtown hotel in Dubai; in February last year, fire broke out at a 79-storey residential tower in Dubai, and in November 2012, a 34-storey Dubai residential building was partially gutted.
In some of those cases, experts said the flames may have been encouraged to spread by flammable exterior cladding, used for decoration or insulation.
The UAE revised its building safety code in 2013 to require that cladding on all new buildings over 15 metres (50 feet) tall be fire-resistant, but older buildings are exempt.