Dubai Sulafa Tower on fire as hundreds evacuate the building

A massive fire has broken out at a luxury Dubai apartment block - raining smouldering debris down on the floors and roads below.
Firefighters are battling the blaze at the 75-storey Sulafa Tower in the Dubai Marina, United Arab Emirates with hundreds of people reportedly evacuated from the block.
And videos posted online appear to show a huge section of the building - possibly as much as two thirds of the block - engulfed by flames.
Debris could be seen falling from the skyscraper, a popular home for ex-pats, which is 285m tall - making it the 23rd tallest building in Dubai and 127th tallest in the world.
Time Out Dubai said the fire is believed to have started on Sulafa Tower's 35th floor at 2.48pm on Wednesday.

#Dubai #fire #BreakingNews #dubaimarina - developing. Pray everybody has evacuated safely pic.twitter.com/y7GL2LBS35

— Thomas Ferguson (@imtomferguson) July 20, 2016

It said debris had landed on balconies on the lower floors, which then helped the fire spread.
Videos taken at the scene appear to show at least two thirds of the building has been affected.
And one photograph showed flames belching from the building's top floors, suggesting firefighters had lost control of the blaze.

Fire in sulafa tower #dubaimarina #sulafatower #dubai pic.twitter.com/FVEZEVAAqM

— Nora Maki (@nmaki) July 20, 2016

One resident said: "My whole life is in the apartment. The fire started on the 35th floor, but we're not sure how yet. Most of the people who live there are standing outside watching the fire.
"The fire has spread down both sides of the building now and is getting worse.

@kikipigeon pic.twitter.com/an1gaJuXRQ

— Fixmyphoneline.co.uk (@LondonTelecoms) July 20, 2016

"My mate also lives in the same block and hasn't renewed his house insurance yet this year so if his flat goes up he's done for.
"Residents in surrounding buildings are also now being evacuated because they are worried they may also catch fire. Debris is floating down from the building and is landing in neighbouring swimming pools."

#sulafatower #dubaimarina #fire #rightnow pic.twitter.com/sWb36VFmDa

— Melissa O'Neill (@lissa_oneill) July 20, 2016

Another resident: "I was at work at the time and I'm now standing outside the building. The whole building has been evacuated but the fire is still spreading."
Reports suggest the roof of the building's car park is also ablaze.
At least 10 fire engines are at the scene and residents have been evacuated from the block.

Time Out said The Westin Dubai Mina Sehayi was offering refuge to residents who have been evacuated.

I count 8 fire trucks and quite a few (hopefully precautionary) ambulances. #fire #marina pic.twitter.com/ifolczVBRh

— Rola Abu Hassan (@RolaAbuHassan) July 20, 2016