Hundreds of people in Dubai were evacuated from one of the world’s tallest residential buildings this morning when fire swept through The Torch, a 79-story skyscraper

Hundreds of people in Dubai were evacuated from one of the world's tallest residential buildings this morning when fire swept through The Torch, a 79-story skyscraper, residents said.

A witness said flames shot out from two sides of the building as glass and metal rained down from near the summit of the structure, which stands more than 330 meters (1,082 feet) tall.

Medics said there were no casualties. At least a dozen fire trucks were able to extinguish the blaze several hours after the fire alarm went off around 2 a.m. local time (2200 GMT Friday).

However, some residents said they had been told by staff that the building's fire alarms did not immediately sound and that the reception at The Torch was alerted to the fire by staff in an adjacent building.

"They (the Torch receptionists) got a call from Princess Tower telling them the building was on fire. The alarms were not operating automatically," Archibald Jurdi, who lives on the 76th floor, told Reuters.

Reuters could not independently verify the status of the fire alarms. The building manager could not be reached for comment.

Dubai civil defense officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and the cause of the fire remained unclear.