Metro reported that yesterday, November 7th, a massive fire tore through a 35-story apartment building in Dubai.
Photos and videos of the blaze at the Emaar skyscraper, located close to the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world have been shared widely online.
In the videos shared online, pieces of debris can be seen falling to the ground. What caused the fire, if anyone was hurt, was unclear at first.
According to Sky News, the fire broke out at 2:20 a.m., and by 3:11 a.m., Dubai Civil Defence had arrived. The fire was put out at 3:45 am, and the exterior of the structure later showed black scorch marks and ash streaks.
The 35-Story apartment building’s outside has been severely damaged, and the damage appears to extend to all stories. Police and civil defence in Dubai did not immediately confirm the incident.
To date, neither the Emaar corporate headquarters nor the Dubai Media Office has responded to requests for comment.
However, a spate of similar events in Dubai’s tall buildings over the past few years has raised concerns. The concerns are about the security of cladding and other building materials in the United Arab Emirates.