Fire engulfed a luxury building Thursday near where tens of thousands of people had gathered for Dubai’s massive New Year’s Eve fireworks display.

It was not immediately clear what caused the fire, which ran up at least 20 stories of the building. The blaze broke out at the five-star Address Downtown, a 63-story luxury hotel and residential building.

Burning debris rained down from the building as firetrucks raced to the scene. The building was evacuated, and Dubai’s media office said 14 people suffered minor injuries.
People run away after the burning The Address Hotel in downtown Dubai in the United Arab Emirates December 31, 2015.
Ahmed Jadallah | Reuters
People run away after the burning The Address Hotel in downtown Dubai in the United Arab Emirates December 31, 2015.

Dubai officials said reports suggest the blaze started outside the 20th floor of the building, but they maintain the fire has not spread inside the structure. Four squads of firefighters responded and are working to stop the fire’s spread.

After 2 p.m. ET, officials said the fire was 90 percent contained. But at that time, flames still laced the side of the building as smoke billowed around it.

The building sits near the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper at 828 meters (905 yards). Dubai’s scheduled New Year’s Eve celebrations would proceed, officials said. Organizers had expected a million people to attend.