Dubai Fire Update: New Year's Eve 2015 Fireworks Will Continue Despite High-Rise Hotel Engulfed in Flames, Says Authorities

By Eric Chen

A high-rise hotel in central Dubai has been engulfed in flames just before the annual Dubai New Year's Even 2016 Fireworks display. Crowds gathering to watch the countdown have been asked to leave, as the location of the fire happens to be the location of the fireworks - world's tallest skyscraper Burj Khalifa.

The Dubai government tweeted that the fire had started on the 20th floor of Address Hotel, a 60 storeys, luxury five-star hotel and apartment complex. 

The giant fire has engulfed only the outside as the internal fire extinguishers are preventing the spread of fire inside the hotel, according to Dubai's media office.  

Authorities have asked those gathered to leave the vicinity as burning debris fell from the building. The firetrucks responded to the fire. 

"There are no injuries, thank God ... of course, it will not affect the celebration," Major General Rashed al-Matrushi, general director of the Dubai Civil Defence, told the Al Arabiya TV channel. 

For those wanting to watch the Dubai New Year's Eve fireworks display, Downtown Dubai New Year's Gala Youtube Channel. will offer three camera angles for a better online streaming experience. The official online streaming will start at 11:30 p.m. (GMT) Gulf Standard Time at Dubai. Also, check www.mydubainewyear.com for more information about the live stream.

While these hashtags are used for the discussions of Dubai New Year's celebration hashtags #BeThere #WatchLive #MyDubaiNewYear, many have posted videos and pictures of the fire outbreak. 

Are you in Dubai? Are you affected? If you have any information to share with the Gospel Herald, you can email news@gospelherald.com.

Dubai Fire New Year's Eve 2015
Dubai Fire New Year's Eve 2015
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