Towering inferno: Massive fire erupts at Address Hotel in Dubai on New Year's Eve

Fire engulfs The Address Hotel in downtown Dubai in the United Arab Emirates

A MASSIVE fire erupted at the 63-story luxury Address Hotel in Dubai ahead of a New Year’s Eve fireworks display at the world’s tallest skyscraper nearby. Dramatic images have shown the 302-metre high building in flames.

Officials said 15 people suffered minor injuries and another had a heart attack due to overcrowding and smoke. The fire started on the 20th floor of the £600-a-night hotel.

The fire has consumed one side of the hotel

It is unclear what will happen to the structure as the building continues to burn. The five star hotel is minutes from the the world's tallest skyscraper - the 2,722ft Burj Khalifa -where the New Year's fireworks display took place regardless of the blaze.

The fire has consumed one side of the hotel

The fire began at about 9.30pm, and is said to have taken hold of the outside of the building within minutes.
The hotel is popular with British tourists, with some caught up in the chaos. Angus Villar, 27, of Saffron Walden, Essex, escaped from the burning hotel with his wheelchair-bound mum by carrying her on his back down 15 flights of stairs.

The tower is situated in Downtown Dubai

When alerted to the fire by his father, who spotted flames on the balcony, he thought it was a prank.
He said “We all thought it was a joke, but I went out on the balcony and saw that the room next door to us was completely on fire.

The Address hotel is a 5 star getaway

“We got to the fire escape before the fire alarm had gone off at which point there were already people running into the corridors and panicking. “It was pandemonium. I basically just strapped her (his mum) to my back and took her down the stairs.

Injured ... people hurt in blaze receive help after fleeing building

 It was the only way of getting her out of the building, unfortunately.”Burning debris rained down from the building in Downtown Dubai as fire trucks raced to the scene.


 The hotel and residential compound has nearly 200 rooms and over 600 apartments. Reports have emerged to say that The Address has been evacuated, and people were moved out of the Dubai Mall located nearby.

Currently there are at least four firefighting brigades at the site to deal with the blaze and ensure the safety of everyone, according to the Dubai government's media office. It was not immediately clear what caused the fire, which covered at least 20 stories of the building.

Early reports suggested the fire was under control although live footage and images suggest the blaze is ongoing. Scott Sashua, a guest at The Address, wrote on Twitter: "Our whole hotel has just gone up in flames just as we was about to tuck in to our NYE dinner.

Chris Browne, a tourist from London, who was with her husband, Stephen, said: “It’s pretty scary stuff.”
Stuart O’Donnell, a nurse who works in Dubai, said he was worried for those inside the building.
He said: “You feel sad for them... It spread so quickly.”

The disaster came as the city’s skyline was set to sparkle in spectacular New Year celebrations. The Burj Khalifa was dressed with 400,000 LED lights and 1.6 tons of fireworks were primed for a display.

Former tennis ace Boris Becker, 48, who was in the city last night, calmed fears for his safety via Twitter.
He wrote: “Just want to inform family and friends we r safe in our hotel in Dubai! Fire is more downtown!”
It was unclear what caused the blaze, which could be seen for miles.

Experts say many of Dubai’s towers are a risk. As many as 70 per cent are said to have cladding made of a combustible thermoplastic core surrounded by aluminium which, when ignited, fire quickly spreads through.

In February, a massive fire broke out in the Marina Torch, a residential skyscraper at the Dubai Marina. The residents were evacuated and no fatalities were reported in that incident.