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Fire rips through Dubai skyscraper
BBC ^ | Feb 20, 2015

Posted on 02/20/2015 7:19:17 PM PST by Jet Jaguar

A fire has swept through the Torch skyscraper in Dubai, one of the tallest residential buildings in the world.

Strong winds helped the blaze to spread across the 336.1m (1,105ft) high building in the marina district.

One eyewitness told the BBC "there was debris flying everywhere, falling into neighbouring buildings". Later reports said the fire was under control.

It is not known what caused the blaze. Hundreds of people were evacuated and there are no reports of any casualties.

'Like Titanic' Footage posted on social media showed what looked like molten glass and pieces of masonry falling down.

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dubai; skyscraper
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1 posted on 02/20/2015 7:19:17 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
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To: Jet Jaguar

aptly named ; The Torch Tower


2 posted on 02/20/2015 7:20:28 PM PST by LeoWindhorse
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To: LeoWindhorse

Seems like a lot of fires over there lately. Hope all evacuated ok. Prayers for them.


3 posted on 02/20/2015 7:23:31 PM PST by The_Media_never_lie (The media must be defeated any way it can be done.)
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To: LeoWindhorse

Between the threat of fire and random terrorists airplane hits, who the heck would rent space in any super tall building these days?


4 posted on 02/20/2015 7:24:36 PM PST by doc1019 (Blue lives matter)
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To: Jet Jaguar

Perhaps construction workers paid 50 cents an hour and held as slaves don’t do such a great job?


5 posted on 02/20/2015 7:24:42 PM PST by proxy_user
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To: Jet Jaguar

Stood too close to the drapes.

6 posted on 02/20/2015 7:25:21 PM PST by ClearCase_guy (The dog days are over /The dog days are done/Can you hear the horses? /'Cause here they come)
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To: Jet Jaguar

Can’t imagine living that high up.


7 posted on 02/20/2015 7:25:48 PM PST by LongWayHome
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To: Jet Jaguar

I don’t know who would want to live that far off the ground.


8 posted on 02/20/2015 7:26:25 PM PST by PistolPaknMama
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To: Jet Jaguar

Yup, bummer. Gotta go, beer to drink.


9 posted on 02/20/2015 7:28:27 PM PST by loungitude (The truth hurts.)
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To: Jet Jaguar

Sounds like the film “Inferno”


10 posted on 02/20/2015 7:38:15 PM PST by GeronL
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To: The_Media_never_lie
BBCNews: 'Towering Inferno' fears for Gulf's high-rise blocks Report dated May 1, 2013
"The Arab Gulf states are home to some of the most spectacular high-rise towers in the world. But some building experts say that many of those towers are sheathed in a highly flammable material that puts occupants at risk. One expert in the UAE has estimated that 70% of the high-rise buildings there have panel facade cladding made of a combustible thermoplastic core held between two sheets of aluminium.

When the panel ignites, fire spreads rapidly, racing to the top of the building and sending flaming debris hurtling to the streets below. "Like a Roman candle" is how one observer described it.

The initial cause of the fire can be something as simple as a discarded cigarette butt or a charcoal barbecue left unattended on a balcony.


11 posted on 02/20/2015 7:42:56 PM PST by wtd
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To: GeronL

The Towering Inferno.

They could use Steve McQueen about now.


12 posted on 02/20/2015 7:43:33 PM PST by Delta 21 (Patiently waiting for the jack booted kick at my door.)
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To: Jet Jaguar

Brian Williams may have dropped off the radar, but his pants have been located.


13 posted on 02/20/2015 7:46:29 PM PST by Joe 6-pack (Qui me amat, amat et canem meum.)
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To: Joe 6-pack

Well put!


14 posted on 02/20/2015 7:48:57 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
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To: Jet Jaguar

Looks like the cigarette butt was about forty floors apart. That’s a big butt.

Have to wonder if enough damage was done to load bearing structural elements that may prevent re-occupation.

Also would be interesting to know how many infidels were Torch residents.


15 posted on 02/20/2015 7:50:39 PM PST by Rockpile
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To: Jet Jaguar

Amazing no injuries reported yet!


16 posted on 02/20/2015 8:07:28 PM PST by G Larry (I'm not here to make liberals happy.)
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To: G Larry

I suspect heads may roll tomorrow when the King finds the infidels who constructed that Hell Tower.


17 posted on 02/20/2015 8:16:11 PM PST by batterycommander (A little more rubble, a lot less trouble.)
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To: Jet Jaguar

It is a good bet that their secret police and arson investigators are at work in the background of this event. Checking the video records for instance to see if any non-residents got off elevators on fire origin floors.

There is going to be a serious financial hit on whoever owns this four year old building. Repairs, lost rents and possibly having to demolish it.

( I wonder if any jihadis think these big Western Devil buildings are an offense to allah).


18 posted on 02/20/2015 8:20:47 PM PST by Rockpile
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To: Delta 21

bump


19 posted on 02/20/2015 8:21:07 PM PST by GeronL
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To: proxy_user

I suspect sub-par building materials and shortcuts.


20 posted on 02/20/2015 8:50:05 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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