News Digest

Fire engulfs one of the world’s highest residential towers in Dubai

Hundreds of residents were evacuated from one of the tallest residential towers in the world, Dubai’s Torch Tower, when it caught fire in the early hours of Saturday morning. Dubai Civil Defense said the fire began in an apartment on the 51st floor and spread up to the 83rd before it brought under control. Civil defense reported no serious injuries, but said seven people were treated for mild smoke inhalation. Abu Dhabi daily The National reports 100 officers from nine civil defence stations took part in putting out the blaze.

I was really surprised they got it under control pretty quickly. It looked like it was going to go up.

Resident R J Morlock, 33, of Houston, speaking to The National

A blaze in the neighbouring emirate of Abu Dhabi claimed 10 lives and injured eight yesterday when an illegal workers accommodation caught fire. The last fire in a residential tower in Dubai took place in November 2012 at Tamweel Tower and prompted strict reviews of cladding materials used in high-rises after it emerged the developer had used highly flammable aluminium and fibreglass sheeting on the facade.