Hundreds of workers have been evacuated from an under-construction building adjacent to Beach Rotana hotel and Abu Dhabi Mall.

Thick, dark smoke continues to billow from the top of the building, with civil defence helicopters circling the site.

One onlooking construction worker said that the fire had started at about 10.30am on Tuesday.

“Today I know what it is be afraid of death,” said Mohammed Marouf, 34, who was working on the 8th floor of the building that now exceeds 25 floors.

Source: thenational.ae