Dubai Marina fire: Residents had no idea their tower was burning

Dubai: As towering flames engulfed a 67-storey high-rise in Dubai Marina on Friday night, some residents said they were unaware their own building was ablaze until it was nearly too late.

Some evacuees noted that it wasn’t until they saw firefighters and police on the ground or heard neighbours banging on their doors that they realised the danger.

“I think there was no fire alarm, or it didn’t work,” said Aron, who works at a nearby shop. “We were on the streets waving at them, as many residents were just staring out of their windows. They thought the fire was in another building not their own.”

Watch the video below by Ahmad Alotbi/Gulf News

The fire, which broke out around 9:30pm, drew large crowds and triggered an immediate emergency response. Firefighting teams from Dubai Civil Defence, along with police and ambulance services, arrived at the scene within minutes.  In several videos shared on social media platforms, residents can be seen rushing out of the main entrance with their faces covered with clothing to avoid inhaling smoke. First responders are seen guiding evacuees to safety.

“It was scary. We were sleeping when it happened. We somehow managed to get out in time,” said another resident. “The firefighters did a commendable job, but I don’t know if anything from our belongings is left.”

Several residents reported smelling smoke, but only realised the urgency after the first responders arrived.

“There was a smoky smell that got worse, but we didn’t find anything wrong in our flat. It was only when we heard the sirens of vans and our neighbour called and banged on our door that we realised the building was on fire,” a resident said.

Despite the confusion, Dubai Civil Defence carried out a swift and well-coordinated evacuation, rescuing 3,820 residents without any reported casualties or injuries. Braving thick smoke through stairwells and elevators, firefighters ensured every resident and even pets were safely escorted out.

At 11:40am on Saturday, authorities confirmed that the fire had been fully contained. The smoke still visible at the site was due to ongoing cooling operations, a standard part of firefighting procedures, they added.