Firefighters Battle Skyscraper Blaze In UAE

Hundreds of people have been evacuated from a high-rise tower as firefighters battle a blaze in the United Arab Emirates.

The fire broke out at a skyscraper in the city of Ajman, which is home to many commuters who work in the nearby commercial hub of Dubai.

Footage from the scene shows flames shooting out the side of the building as burning debris fell to the ground.

Police have sealed off a major road close to the skyscraper as firefighters work to extinguish the blaze.

There are no immediate reports of any casualties.

The fire comes less than three months after a massive blaze at a 63-storey hotel in Dubai known as The Address Downtown Dubai.

Several others major fires have also broken out at skyscrapers in Dubai and Sharjah in recent years, with experts attributing the fires to a material commonly used to cover the buildings.

They say an aluminium composite panel cladding used in many UAE buildings contains a flammable core that can burn rapidly once ignited, allowing fires to spread quickly.