A towering blaze engulfed a 67-storey residential high-rise in Dubai Marina, prompting the urgent evacuation of close to 4,000 residents late Friday night. Residents said fire alarms didn’t go off, and many only realized the danger after smelling smoke or getting calls. Thick smoke made stairwells unusable, so some escaped via elevators.

Nearby buildings were also cleared. Several residents criticized the poor safety systems. Many are now in hotels, and some were taken to the hospital for smoke-related issues.

Dubai Civil Defence was praised for its quick response and support during the evacuation.