Fire engulfs Dubai hotel near Burj Khalifa

Fire broke out Thursday in a residential building near Dubai’s massive New Year’s Eve fireworks display.

Fire broke out on Thursday in a hotel near Dubai’s massive New Year’s Eve fireworks display.

A huge fire ripped through a luxury Dubai hotel on Thursday near the world’s tallest tower, where people were gathering to watch New Year’s Eve celebrations. (Twitter)

It was not immediately clear what caused the fire, which ran up at least 20 stories of The Address Hotel in Downtown Dubai near the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper.

Burning debris rained down from the building as firetrucks raced to the scene. It was not immediately clear if anyone was wounded in the blaze.

Dubai planned to wow spectators with three separate firework displays. The show was to begin at the Burj Khalifa, which organizers said was fitted with 400,000 LED lights. They said 1.6 tons of fireworks would be used in the display.

From there, the fireworks were to light up the sky around the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab and later down near the Dubai Marina. Fireworks also will be on display in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the country of seven emirates.

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, who was near the hotel at the time of fire, tweeted out pictures.

Many Twitter users who were near the building tweeted pictures.