Update: There are reports of a "large explosion" near the site of the fire. Here's the clip:
Authorities say the blaze is 90% contained. There are 14 reported injuries and 1 reported casualty although we suspect these numbers will be the subject of some debate and dispute in the hours to come.
Earlier:
Have "the terrorists" turned into arsonists, did someone misfire a bottle rocket in their room, or are the powers that be out to destroy the Gold Holding evidence [5]?
Whatever the case, a massive fire has broken out at The Address hotel in downtown Dubai. The building boasts a 5-star hotel and is 302 meters tall.
- NO CASUALTIES IN DUBAI HOTEL FIRE, OFFICIAL TELLS ARABIYA
- ALL DUBAI HOTEL GUESTS EVACUATED, OFFICIAL TELLS ARABIYA
- DUBAI HOTEL FIRE STARTED FROM 20TH FLOOR: DUBAI MEDIA OFFICE
- FOUR FIRE BRIGADES AT HOTEL SITE: DUBAI MEDIA OFFICE
"The fire broke out Thursday in a residential building near Dubai's massive New Year's Eve fireworks display," AP reports [6], adding that "it was not immediately clear what caused the fire, which ran up at least 20 stories of the building near the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper at 828 meters (905 yards) [and rained] burning debris from the building as firetrucks raced to the scene."
Although no cause has yet been identified, one witness apparently told CNN [7] she heard an explosion around the time the building was engulfed in flames.
Live feeds:
A second feed after the jump:
[8]
Here are the stunning visuals:
Fire at The Address, Downtown #Dubai [9] (KT video by Rahul Gajjar) pic.twitter.com/ofOJXW3UEI [10]
— Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) December 31, 2015 [11]
Watch: Huge fire in building thought to be a hotel in Dubai, close to location of New Year's Eve fireworks display https://t.co/buceweRjuw [12]
— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 31, 2015 [13]
Uh oh. RT @michealsalameh [14]: The address downtown #Dubai [9] #fire [15] pic.twitter.com/TRIqrYh5QQ [16]
— Garnet Fraser (@garnetfraser) December 31, 2015 [17]
Yikes. Major fire in #Dubai [9] at the address hotel, right next to #DubaiFireworks [18] site pic.twitter.com/87Z2cidfYm [19]
— Barry Whyte (@bwhyte11) December 31, 2015 [20]
The Address is on fire #dubai [21] pic.twitter.com/XP4eQYHrRe [22]
— Serene Touma (@sereneybeany) December 31, 2015 [23]
Address hotel Dubai on fire. pic.twitter.com/vZKFZuZJrs [24]
— Rami Ranger (@RamiRanger) December 31, 2015 [25]
#dubai [21] right now pic.twitter.com/7h73ehELhq [26]
— Atieh S (@AtiehS) December 31, 2015 [27]
Fire at The Address hotel, Downtown Dubai (Video by KT surfer Deepak Bulchandani) pic.twitter.com/2zDhcPH1h3 [28]
— Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) December 31, 2015 [29]
People are running away! This is so horrific!!!!! Falling on people's houses pic.twitter.com/gq9AXEyTJr [30]
— Atieh S (@AtiehS) December 31, 2015 [31]
To give you an idea of the scale of the #Dubai [9] hotel that's on fire, here's the view from the top. @bbcnews [32] pic.twitter.com/KH4kt33pkR [33]
— Ben Thompson (@BBCBenThompson) December 31, 2015 [34]
But don't worry New Year's revelers, because the show, as they say, must go on:
. @DXBMediaOffice [35]: New Year celebrations in Dubai will continue as scheduled #MyDubaiNewYear [36]
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) December 31, 2015 [37]