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Updated 18.58pm
A HUGE FIRE has ripped through a luxury Dubai hotel this evening near the world’s tallest tower, where people were gathering to watch New Year’s Eve celebrations, police said.
All residents have been evacuated safely, reports AFP.
The Dubai government media office tweeted that a “fire has been reported in the Address Downtown hotel. Authorities are currently on-site to address the incident swiftly and safely.”
Witnesses near the iconic Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, said huge flames were seen billowing from the hotel.
The flames can be seen at least 20 storeys high. Emergency services are at the scene.
Burning debris is falling from from the building, reports Associated Press. It is not immediately clear if anyone has been wounded in the blaze.
New Year’s Eve celebrations
Dubai planned to wow spectators with three separate firework displays this evening.
The show was to begin at the Burj Khalifa, which organisers said was fitted with 400,000 LED lights. They said 1.6 tonnes 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.
Official reports are that the New Year celebrations to go ahead in Dubai despite the fire, reports AFP.
The flames can be seen billowing from the building some distance away.
Additional reporting AFP and Associated Press. More as we get it…
It has to be those brown trouts floating about.
In this day and age how is ecoli ( human sewerage? ) getting into the bay in sufficient volumes to impact these beaches?
Any ideas?
Is raw sewerage getting into the rivers or is it the ringsend plant?
faecal hand of faith I’d say.
I worked on a trawler out of Howth in the past.After witnessing the muck , filth and human waste we hawled up in our nets , I wouldn’t stick my little toe in any waters off Dublin. I apply the same rules to eating fish and shellfish from the same waters.
Did a microbiology project many moons ago testing for pathogens in the waters around Sandymount Strand. Suffice to say 20 years later I still wouldn’t even paddle in thyself waters. The Irish Sea is filthy which is highly regrettable.
‘Those’ rather
Fitz I grow up not 5 mins from the strand and never did we or anyone I know swim in it .You walked on it that was about it .
“Dublin city council have banned swimming from merrion strand” Is that so difficult rather than these stupid click bait headlines!
The outfall from Ringsend plant goes out 3km so imagine with dilution the amount of raw sewage that must go out for Ecoli to arrive back on shore. We will not be told but obviously the Ringsend plant is not functioning as it should.
The same people giving out , would also give out about sewerage treatment plants being built near them . Or paying for taxes to help upgrade existing plants .
They will bring in a White tax now.
Shite……
Folks this is not on. Please serioous answers , ideas. I will act on them.
1 ringsend plant
2 liffey
3 other rivers dodder, tolka?
Something needs to be done…any ideas?
it’s all the people bring there dogs for walks and not having any consideration for anyone by not cleaning up after the pets if your not willing to clean after there pets don’t have a pet
Hmmm no it’s not. The occasional dog crap left on the sand is not responsible for the high numbers of E. Coli and staph coliforms in the water. That’s our crap that’s causing that. Inconsiderate it may be it’s not the cause, you might look to complain also to whomever owns those washed up sanitary towels I see whilst walking my dogs. (Poo bags at hand at all times naturally)
Salthill beaches in Galway have been closed as well.
have your say