Dubai’s Torch Tower Catches Fire for Second Time in Two Years

Hundreds of residents of Dubai’s Torch Tower have been evacuated after a huge fire broke out at the skyscraper for the second time in two years.

Footage posted on social media showed flames spreading up the residential skyscraper, and burning debris falling down.

The UAE authorities later said that civil defense workers “successfully evacuated” the building and the blaze was brought under control.

It is not clear what caused the fire in one of the world’s tallest buildings.

The government of Dubai‘s media office tweeted: “No injuries have been reported so far in the Torch Tower fire incident.”

It added that “cooling operations were under way”.

The Torch Tower was damaged by an earlier blaze in February 2015.

The 79-storey skyscraper opened in 2011 and was the world’s tallest residential building at its opening, but has since been surpassed by six others. According to the Skyscraper Center, the Torch Tower is thought to be the 32nd tallest building in the world. It has 676 apartments and a two-bedroom flat starts at more than $500,000. Residents have access to an eight-storey garage and a swimming pool overlooking Dubai’s waterfront.