The fire that raged through the Address Hotel in Downtown Dubai on New Year's Eve has been contained, the hotel has announced.
At least fourteen people were reportedly injured after the fire engulfed several floors of the hotel a couple of hours before the New Year fireworks started in the neighbouring Burj Khalifa.
Dubai Civil Defence said an investigation is being conducted to ascertain the causes of the accident.
The Crisis Management Committee, chaired by Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police Major General Khamis Matar Al Mazeinah, led the efforts to manage the incident, control the damages and secure the safety of the public, which was given top priority.
Al Mazeina praised the exceptional collaboration between all the entities that are part of the Crisis Management Committee and the extraordinary efficiency of the Dubai Civil Defence in controlling the fire and helping avoid serious injuries or causalities.
Dubai Civil Defence said the fire broke out around 9pm on Thursday and the initial information indicates that it originated from the 20th floor of the hotel. All information about the accident will be published once the investigation is complete.
Civil Defence personnel from various units were seen fighting the flames early on Friday morning while the hotel was under the custody of the Dubai Police. Smoke continued to billow from the hotel as cooling operations went on till late afternoon.
"The fire in the hotel has been contained," a spokesperson of the hotel said in statement issued around 4:45pm. The hotel said all guests and employees were safely evacuated and guests have been put up in various hotels in the city.
"All our guests and employees were safely evacuated. Guests have been provided with alternate accommodation in various hotels in Dubai. We are sincerely thankful to these hotels for their support and cooperation.
"We have also set up a hotline number and email address for the guests, and have a dedicated team assigned for them."
The hotel had posted the hotline number and the email address on social media:
A total of 77 firefighters are reported to have battled the flames, which have now been put out.
There has been no reported injuries and the cause of the fire is still unknown
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