Fire has engulfed the luxury five star The Address Hotel in downtown Dubai, sending New Year's revellers fleeing although. Despite one entire side of the 63-floor turning into an inferno, the nearby Burj Khalifa, which is the world's tallest building, was the scene of festive fireworks at midnight.
A picture taken on December 31, 2015 shows the Address Downtown hotel burning after huge fire ripped through the luxury hotel near the world's tallest tower, Burj Khalifa, in Dubai. People were gathering to watch New Year's Eve celebrations when the hotel caught on fire. All the residents of the hotel have been evacuated, the emirate's police chief said, adding that the cause of the blaze is still unknown.KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty ImagesA fire engulfs The Address Hotel in downtown Dubai in the United Arab Emirates December 31, 2015ReutersPeople run away from the burning The Address Hotel in downtown Dubai in the United Arab Emirates December 31, 2015ReutersReutersReuters
The government's Dubai Media Office tweeted that fire crews were at the scene, and that the blaze started on the 20th floor of the building and mainly affected the exterior. The Address Hotel tweeted that emergency services were working to evacuate the building. Dubai Police chief Colonel Saif al Mazroui said no casualties are reported yet and Dubai's Address Hotel was evacuated.
New Year's revellers prepared for the evening's festiviites flee the area as a fire engulfs the nearby The Address Hotel (not pictured) in downtown Dubai in the United Arab Emirates December 31, 2015Reuters
The hotel is not located far from the Burj Khalifa tower which is the centre of a spectacular New Year fireworks display thousands have gathered to watch.
A picture taken on December 31, 2015 shows people watching the Address Downtown hotel burning after huge fire ripped through the luxury hotel near the world's tallest tower, in Dubai. People were gathering to watch New Year's Eve celebrations when the hotel caught on fire without causing casualties, according to authoritiesKARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty ImagesA picture taken on December 31, 2015 shows the Address Downtown hotel burning after huge fire ripped through the luxury hotel near the world's tallest tower, in Dubai. People were gathering to watch New Year's Eve celebrations when the hotel caught on fire without causing casualties, according to authoritiesKARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty ImagesA picture taken on December 31, 2015 shows people watching the Address Downtown hotel burning after huge fire ripped through the luxury hotel near the world's tallest tower, in Dubai. People were gathering to watch New Year's Eve celebrations when the hotel caught on fire without causing casualties, according to authoritiesKARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images
View of The Address Hotel (L) from the 124th of the Burj KhalifaDaniel Zimmermann
The Address is the 19th tallest building in Dubai, with 196 rooms and 200 apartments. It was completed in 2008.
A view of The Address Hotel, DubaiGetty
One couple has posed for a selfie with the blazing skyscraper in the background, drawing criticism from Instagram users.
Couple takes selfie photograph while The Address Hotel burns in the backgroundInstagram
Instagram user Ali Barakat sent his happy New Year wishes along with an image of the unfolding disaster
Instagram user Ali Barakat sent his happy New Year wishes along with an image of the unfolding disasterInstagram
Fireworks still place at midnight in the biggest city in the UAEReuters
Some of the injured are tended to outside the blazeReuters
