DUBAI – Dubai police say a major fire broke out in a high-rise building under construction near the world's tallest skyscraper, but there were no immediate reports of injuries. The blaze Saturday sent a column of gray smoke over the cluster of towers surrounding the landmark Burj Khalifa spire. A statement by Dubai police says a short circuit apparently touched off what it called a “huge fire.” The police say more than 20 workers were evacuated and the flames were brought under control. Eyewitness accounts said the fire was believed to be in the Burj Al Nujoom very close to the Burj Views residential towers and the cinema entrance of Dubai Mall. Numerous civil defence teams arrived on the scene ten minutes after the fire was reported. A spokesman for civil defence said the blaze started on the top floor of the 33-storey, under-construction building about 1.30 p.m. Although the fire is being described as 'an accident' by civil defense, the exact cause of the fire is still not known. It took fire crews nearly three hours to bring it under control. He added no casualties had been reported. In November, a fire forced the evacuation of a 34-story residential tower in Dubai. – Agencies
