Hyderabad: A huge fire spread through a luxury Dubai hotel, injuring 16 people, just a few hours before the emirate celebrated the new year on Thursday evening with a spectacular fireworks display nearby.
Smoke was still rising from the 63-storey Address Downtown hotel near the Burj Khalifa in Dubai on Friday. Businessman Mr Vemuru Vamsi Krishna, a resident of Kondapur in Hyderabad, was with six members of his family in Dubai. He said, “We were in Burj Tower Residence 1 just opposite Burj Khalifa. The fire started somewhere in the middle of the building and in 10 minutes spread to the top floor. We heard huge explosions as the fire spread.”
“There were many Telugu tourists around, waiting for the firework show. Initially after seeing the fire we were frightened. But normalcy was restored quickly and the celebrations went on,” said Vamsi.
Witnesses described scenes of panic after the fire spread, with residents screaming and some fainting as they rushed to evacuate the building. Still, authorities said only 16 people had suffered mostly minor injuries.
At least 14 people were slightly injured, one was moderately injured and one person suffered a heart attack during the evacuation, the government said. Roads leading directly to the hotel were closed but otherwise Dubai city centre appeared normal.
