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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — There's no word of any injuries, after fire engulfed a luxury building near the world's tallest skyscraper in Dubai.
It's in the area where tens of thousands of people had gathered for a massive New Year's fireworks display.
The flames ran up at least 20 stories of the 63-story luxury hotel and residential building called The Address Downtown. It sent burning debris raining down from the building as firetrucks raced to the scene.
A civil defense official says the building was evacuated and no injuries were reported. It's not yet clear what caused the fire. Authorities say it appears to have started on a 20th-floor terrace.
The fire broke out about two hours before midnight, when the fireworks display was set to begin. To manage the crowds, police had closed off some roads and the metro before the fire broke out.
Officials said the New Year's Eve celebrations would go on as planned.
%@AP Links
183-c-11-(Joseph Krauss, AP correspondent)-"in the area"-AP correspondent Joseph Krauss reports a massive fire is raging at a high-rise in Dubai. (31 Dec 2015)
<<CUT *183 (12/31/15)££ 00:11 "in the area"
184-c-18-(Joseph Krauss, AP correspondent)-"in the blaze"-AP correspondent Joseph Krauss reports the huge fire began about two hours before Dubai's fireworks shows were to begin. (watch for dating on cause and casualties) (31 Dec 2015)
<<CUT *184 (12/31/15)££ 00:18 "in the blaze"
APPHOTO DUB101: A fire runs up some 20 stories of a building in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. The fire broke out Thursday in a residential building near Dubai's massive New Year's Eve fireworks display. It was not immediately clear what caused the fire near the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper at 828 meters (905 yards). (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) (31 Dec 2015)
<<APPHOTO DUB101 (12/31/15)££
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