Fire rips through 79-storey Dubai Marina Torch

One of the world's tallest residential buildings, home to multi-million pound apartments, is engulfed in flames

A fire that engulfed the higher floors of a Dubai residential high-rise tower has been extinguished.

Hundreds of residents were evacuated after the blaze erupted hours earlier in the building, one of the world's tallest residential buildings. It is located in the Dubai Marina district, which houses much of the Gulf emirate's expatriate community.

Strong winds are helping the blaze to spread across the 1,105ft, 79-storey building in the marina district.

The fire began at the 50th floor of the 79-floor tower, the Gulf News daily said on its website citing a resident, adding that people were being rescued with smoke inhalation injuries.

Dubai, known for its skyline of skyscrapers, has seen fires at towers in the past.

In 2012, a huge blaze gutted the 34-Tamweel tower in the nearby Jumeirah Lake Towers district. It was later revealed to have been caused by a cigarette butt thrown into a bin.

It was not immediately known what caused the fire or whether people were inside the building. There are no reports yet of any casualties.