DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Officials in Dubai say there have been some injuries in the fire that engulfed a luxury building near the world's tallest skyscraper.
The Dubai Media Office said 14 people were lightly injured and that one suffered a heart attack due to the smoke and overcrowding during evacuation. The statement said another person was moderately injured. No children were among those injured.
The fire at a 63-story hotel and apartment building raged as thousands of people gathered in the streets around the building for one of the world's largest New Year's fireworks displays. The blaze began about two hours before the midnight fireworks show.
But the event went on as scheduled, with the fireworks obscured by smoke from the fire.
About 15 minutes before midnight, large explosions could be heard from inside the burning building. It was not clear what caused the blasts. The building was cloaked in thick black smoke.
