Fire breaks out at Dubai Torch apartment skyscraper

Hundreds of people in Dubai were evacuated from one of the world's tallest residential buildings on Saturday when fire swept through the Torch, a 79-story skyscraper, residents said.

A witness said flames shot out from two sides of the building as glass and metal rained down from near the summit of structure, which stands more 330 metres (1,082 feet) tall.

Medics said there were no casualties. At least a dozen fire trucks were able to extinguish the blaze several hours after the fire alarm went off around 2 am local time (2200 GMT Friday).

Residents said the fire had been fanned by high winds. Dubai civil defense officials did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment and the cause of the fire remained unclear.

Residents of two other nearby buildings in the emirate's Marina district, home to thousands of expatriate professionals, were also evacuated, the witness said.

Dubai is one of seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a Gulf Arab trade and investment hub.