![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5HBKJJMNFWEDEL4ZKOMKJG3B7Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=5b564346d78ce3c8eb08e694d4ff2b575734e3fb0bdaad2d604d461daa08c5cc&width=400&height=225)
The dramatic fire prompted conversations over long-standing concerns about the sort of cladding used in Dubai towers.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H4OG6RBPTDQ32BQRCNY3ZWLFNY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5c08729766c815b0d10dd7e84c7487a9f29f6ba63ef37079a6841163d0ab436d&width=400&height=225)
A massive fire rips through TheTorch tower's southern corner in Dubai Marina. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MN5JUWSINESNBVTULXR5NNXXMY.jpg?smart=true&auth=04d1d61f8090b39d9c947b3a69d77d9dacfbb73c4eefbf8dda74e2b692450cc6&width=400&height=225)
A fire broke out at Torch tower in Dubai, one of the world’s tallest residential buildings, in the early hours of this morning.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YAHXNGVNZ6OBWJ6TJKQSSTNNDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=1394c1378458142fa1fe698bc00a8f046e2bd989c2a0815f579d82ea117962f2&width=400&height=225)
Videos circulated online show the fire rapidly spread upwards as large quantities of burning debris fell onto the streets below.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NPHP5MB3I6XPHTLBUZGVUKN5C4.jpg?smart=true&auth=b76d04b0248668e79eb225048cb1d656a2107f7086fd499bb6b61c87698ef33c&width=400&height=225)
The Dubai building was struck by a fire in 2015 and is currently undergoing restorative work.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OBJ6WHCTFETY5534RV7TWIL6VU.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d7676c4dafbdbcb9c50be21080de1d703a8b8a163a522de4baa2d0ab6530a6c&width=400&height=225)
One eye witness, Rob Shepherd, wrote on Twitter, "We're out but people are in tears... cars are exploding all around now... being moved further away".
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YA6KBQTGXJQA5SJEIHMD56PLKE.jpg?smart=true&auth=8e28c9ad8208e4c172fa4bd5cdcc6e1ab1daf565213157d8e7bcfa33490bbdca&width=400&height=225)
No causalities have been reported so far and many have been evacuated from the building.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OUHQFI5APL5K5RKGIECT3Y6OB4.jpg?smart=true&auth=5255ca15455ca285ed06f400c214f5fe130e1a7ef6645acc6580ef6b298a681d&width=400&height=225)
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EIHSIMF2AZMJJEBIXTDGQME3RQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=eb863a8482819ba3083fa3eeaf213e9b123063b87fe41c59478d3070ac1aa3e7&width=400&height=225)
By 3.40am local time, the Dubai Media Office reported that the Dubai Civil Defence had brought the fire under control and that cooling operations were underway.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5EH3NFW4B2HPLAP2AU5GBIXN2I.jpg?smart=true&auth=0862ce93511f9575e6521adb3f8a1c2bfe9f9659f8ada1d5622f8b2dca1dbbf7&width=400&height=225)
The Dubai Police Commander in Chief and Dubai Civil Defence Director General were reportedly on the scene as measures to control the fire at the tower were underway.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J437QTITT23J66EWUHKWHTKUDA.jpg?smart=true&auth=0a6c0f86589e9ae728bfb5a2a5e8820af140c469ee30414872a935866b265d4e&width=400&height=225)
The Dubai Media Office also confirmed that Dubai authorities were working on providing shelter at the Princess Tower for those affected by the Torch Tower fire.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7NSEPVFRXONFW4CMPZE3S5BIG4.jpg?smart=true&auth=20ddb082a9b5efc23a593a5cb2c1425c66821a95eeba1cdca67e3b1459c03ade&width=400&height=225)
Some locals also posted on social media offering help and rooms to The Torch's residents.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B4NPL6OQC6SY4R7PGEUWMQEWE4.jpg?smart=true&auth=f33c212e92ae8d51e17bfba38102f87b9f6b9c2fd68e04ebf5a25adf9a710a52&width=400&height=225)
The tower became the tallest residential building in the world in 2011 but was surpassed in 2012 by the nearby 23 Marina and Princess Tower directly across the street.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LIMMX3CAXLPIN5QJ7VN523CLSA.jpg?smart=true&auth=9b3dbc9266f4b4e37cbdededbc8b87800076720132d3febd3db76500fb237852&width=400&height=225)
The Torch is 1,105 ft tall, with 79 floors above ground.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MXOP6AXVATG5PHLCO4VDKVXW2U.jpg?smart=true&auth=7841e67e3ee5c16e34201d727f6e8f9b7728ba24d163656542fc25bd6ab2d6f1&width=400&height=225)
Fire rips through The Torch
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Residents watch on.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5HBKJJMNFWEDEL4ZKOMKJG3B7Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=5b564346d78ce3c8eb08e694d4ff2b575734e3fb0bdaad2d604d461daa08c5cc&width=400&height=225)
The dramatic fire prompted conversations over long-standing concerns about the sort of cladding used in Dubai towers.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H4OG6RBPTDQ32BQRCNY3ZWLFNY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5c08729766c815b0d10dd7e84c7487a9f29f6ba63ef37079a6841163d0ab436d&width=400&height=225)
A massive fire rips through TheTorch tower's southern corner in Dubai Marina. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MN5JUWSINESNBVTULXR5NNXXMY.jpg?smart=true&auth=04d1d61f8090b39d9c947b3a69d77d9dacfbb73c4eefbf8dda74e2b692450cc6&width=400&height=225)
A fire broke out at Torch tower in Dubai, one of the world’s tallest residential buildings, in the early hours of this morning.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YAHXNGVNZ6OBWJ6TJKQSSTNNDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=1394c1378458142fa1fe698bc00a8f046e2bd989c2a0815f579d82ea117962f2&width=400&height=225)
Videos circulated online show the fire rapidly spread upwards as large quantities of burning debris fell onto the streets below.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NPHP5MB3I6XPHTLBUZGVUKN5C4.jpg?smart=true&auth=b76d04b0248668e79eb225048cb1d656a2107f7086fd499bb6b61c87698ef33c&width=400&height=225)
The Dubai building was struck by a fire in 2015 and is currently undergoing restorative work.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OBJ6WHCTFETY5534RV7TWIL6VU.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d7676c4dafbdbcb9c50be21080de1d703a8b8a163a522de4baa2d0ab6530a6c&width=400&height=225)
One eye witness, Rob Shepherd, wrote on Twitter, "We're out but people are in tears... cars are exploding all around now... being moved further away".
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YA6KBQTGXJQA5SJEIHMD56PLKE.jpg?smart=true&auth=8e28c9ad8208e4c172fa4bd5cdcc6e1ab1daf565213157d8e7bcfa33490bbdca&width=400&height=225)
No causalities have been reported so far and many have been evacuated from the building.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OUHQFI5APL5K5RKGIECT3Y6OB4.jpg?smart=true&auth=5255ca15455ca285ed06f400c214f5fe130e1a7ef6645acc6580ef6b298a681d&width=400&height=225)
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EIHSIMF2AZMJJEBIXTDGQME3RQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=eb863a8482819ba3083fa3eeaf213e9b123063b87fe41c59478d3070ac1aa3e7&width=400&height=225)
By 3.40am local time, the Dubai Media Office reported that the Dubai Civil Defence had brought the fire under control and that cooling operations were underway.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5EH3NFW4B2HPLAP2AU5GBIXN2I.jpg?smart=true&auth=0862ce93511f9575e6521adb3f8a1c2bfe9f9659f8ada1d5622f8b2dca1dbbf7&width=400&height=225)
The Dubai Police Commander in Chief and Dubai Civil Defence Director General were reportedly on the scene as measures to control the fire at the tower were underway.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J437QTITT23J66EWUHKWHTKUDA.jpg?smart=true&auth=0a6c0f86589e9ae728bfb5a2a5e8820af140c469ee30414872a935866b265d4e&width=400&height=225)
The Dubai Media Office also confirmed that Dubai authorities were working on providing shelter at the Princess Tower for those affected by the Torch Tower fire.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7NSEPVFRXONFW4CMPZE3S5BIG4.jpg?smart=true&auth=20ddb082a9b5efc23a593a5cb2c1425c66821a95eeba1cdca67e3b1459c03ade&width=400&height=225)
Some locals also posted on social media offering help and rooms to The Torch's residents.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B4NPL6OQC6SY4R7PGEUWMQEWE4.jpg?smart=true&auth=f33c212e92ae8d51e17bfba38102f87b9f6b9c2fd68e04ebf5a25adf9a710a52&width=400&height=225)
The tower became the tallest residential building in the world in 2011 but was surpassed in 2012 by the nearby 23 Marina and Princess Tower directly across the street.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LIMMX3CAXLPIN5QJ7VN523CLSA.jpg?smart=true&auth=9b3dbc9266f4b4e37cbdededbc8b87800076720132d3febd3db76500fb237852&width=400&height=225)
The Torch is 1,105 ft tall, with 79 floors above ground.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MXOP6AXVATG5PHLCO4VDKVXW2U.jpg?smart=true&auth=7841e67e3ee5c16e34201d727f6e8f9b7728ba24d163656542fc25bd6ab2d6f1&width=400&height=225)
Fire rips through The Torch
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UQ4FRL5AJWUT3VENPKGS2ZTWMA.jpg?smart=true&auth=aaa2a2123280ebce8e18a4ee42eef97ef21decb4aa07d82ac4df0c570f060000&width=400&height=225)
Residents watch on.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5HBKJJMNFWEDEL4ZKOMKJG3B7Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=5b564346d78ce3c8eb08e694d4ff2b575734e3fb0bdaad2d604d461daa08c5cc&width=400&height=225)
The dramatic fire prompted conversations over long-standing concerns about the sort of cladding used in Dubai towers.
Dubai Torch tower blaze: residents thought it was a false alarm
Dubai Civil Defence reports no casualties and that all pets had been rescued and reunited with their owners after fire damages 38 apartments over 64 floors
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