Fire breaks out near Dubai's New Year's fireworks display

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- A massive fireworks display kicked off New Year's at the world's tallest tower in Dubai, while plumes of smoke billowed in the air from a fire raging at a nearby luxury tower.

Undeterred by the fire, tens of thousands of people gathered near the Burj Khalifa skyscraper for the fireworks show. They whistled and cheered when the fireworks erupted, while teams of firefighters worked to put out the blaze that had engulfed a 63-story luxury hotel and residential building.

Just minutes before the fireworks began, large explosions could be heard from inside the burning building, which was cloaked in thick black smoke. It was not clear what caused the blasts.

Authorities had tweeted that the fire was 90 percent contained.

Arabic news organization Al Arabiya reported that one person died from a heart attack during the fire.Dubai's Media Office said one person suffered a heart attack from the smoke and over-crowding during evacuation and at least 14 people were slightly injured late Thursday. The statement said another person was moderately injured, without elaborating further. No children were among those injured, it said.

Around 1 million people had been expected to gather around the Burj Khalifa to watch the fireworks. Dubai's economy depends heavily on tourism, and New Year's is one of the busiest seasons, drawing people from around the world to watch the fireworks that the emirate puts on at the world's tallest tower, as well as the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab and over a man-made palm-shaped island.

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