Panicked residents crushed as fire engulfs Dubai hotel

Revellers at a luxury Dubai hotel have "shoved and climbed over each other" to escape a huge fire just before New Year's Eve fireworks were about to go off.

The 63-storey Address Downtown Hotel caught fire around 9:30pm Dubai time, with flames engulfing more than 40 storeys.

At least 14 people  have been hurt, Dubai authorities said, some with injuries said to have been caused by being crushed by panicking residents.

Angus Villar was on the 15th floor and told Sky News he was forced to carry his disabled mother on his back to escape.

"It was the classic thing where you would expect women and children first, but no. People were shoving each other down the stairs and climbing over each other,' Mr Villar said.

Resident Kenneth Flynn described the blaze as "unbelievable" and came without warning as no alarm sounded.

"The whole place was up in flames. The heat was so intense, it was unbelievable. Then people started to panic, crushing each other and jumping over railings. And there was no fire alarm," he said.

Dubai's main fireworks display began at midnight at the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower, less than 500 metres from the inferno.

Authorities said they had deployed thousands of security personnel to ensure visitors and residents could enjoy the New Year's festivities safely.