Massive fire lights up residential skyscraper in UAE

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The 48-story high-rise Abbco Tower in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) caught fire Tuesday evening, sending flames shooting up the sides of the building.

The structure, located in Sharjah, had flaming debris falling off of it into the parking lots below, according to The Associated Press. At least seven people suffered minor injuries.

The 623-foot tower is among the tallest buildings in Sharjah, one of the seven sheikhdoms that are a part of the UAE.

Authorities have yet to determine a cause of the blaze. Firefighters used a ladder truck to spray water into the building in an attempt to extinguish the flames, The AP reported.

Fire breaks out at residential skyscraper in United Arab Emirates

Syrian Fadlallah Hassoun, who was in the tower, told The Associated Press he originally thought the fire alarm was just a drill but ended up having to flee the building with his cat.

"Me and family just directly went down with everything we just had and what we were just wearing and we came down immediately," Hassoun said.

"They took our names so that they can see what they can do for us and help us because now we came out and we have no idea what we are going to do," he added. "We are just waiting in the street and seeing what's going to happen."

The UAE, including the skyscraper-studded emirate of Dubai, has suffered a spate of fires in its high-rises in recent years.

The reason for the blazes, building and safety experts have said, is the material used for the buildings' sidings, called aluminium composite panel cladding.

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