Dubai Hotel Blaze Now Under Control, Officials Say
Dubai's New Year's Eve celebrations went on as scheduled.
— -- The fire that damaged a luxury hotel in Dubai on New Year's Eve is now under control, the Dubai government said in a statement Friday. The government is also investigating the cause of the fire that started around 9 p.m. local time at The Address Downtown hotel.
The massive fire originated on the hotel's 20th floor and spread from there, officials said. There were no deaths, but the Dubai government said 16 people were injured in the blaze. According to photos released by government, the fire caused extensive damage to hotel.
"All injured were discharged except for two - a pregnant woman and an elderly man - who are safe and in good condition. The two have been kept at the hospital for close medical observation to ensure they recover completely," according to the statement.
Officials on Thursday said internal fire extinguishers prevented the fire from spreading inside the building while guests evacuated. All guests of the hotel were relocated.
The Address Hotel is located a few yards from the iconic Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab skyscrapers, where a spectacle of lights and fireworks took place. Thousands of people had gathered at the mall between the hotel and the buildings, vying for the best spot to see the glitzy show.
The light and firework display went on as scheduled while the hotel continued to burn.
Photos posted on the government's Twitter account on Friday also revealed damage to the hotel's lobby.