UAE residential towers engulfed in flames

A huge blaze engulfed at least two residential towers in the northern UAE emirate of Ajman on Monday, local media and a witness said. 

The fire erupted at a building in the Ajman One residential cluster of 12 towers and spread to at least another tower, Gulf News daily reported on its website. No casualties had yet been reported.

A resident told AFP that the fire, near the coastline, was fanned by a strong wind. 

Local media said residents were being evacuated as fire brigades struggled to contain the blaze. 

Images of the fire shooting up the building quickly spread on social media.

Skyscraper fires in the UAE are not new. During New Year’s Eve celebrations, a huge fire ripped through a Dubai skyscraper hotel, sending flames high into the city's skyline and injuring 16 people.

Pictures posted by news agencies and local press showed the fire raging at the Address Hotel near the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.

Dubai government officials were adamant the blaze would not stop the New Year celebrations, which went ahead at midnight local time with 1.6 tonnes of fireworks being fired from the Burj Khalifa.

The Address Hotel was still smoking as the fireworks were launched into the sky.