“Three bodies were found on the scene and another died before arriving at Rashid Hospital,” a hospital official told Reuters.

Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Authority — a state body that owns the building — said an investigation would be carried out into the cause of the “tragic” incident without giving further details.

Earlier, another official at the hospital said 15 of those injured were in “serious condition”.

Witnesses said civil defense teams fought to rescue workers trapped by the flames in the building, located in a major development area of the city where dozens of skyscrapers are being built.

A civil defense department official told Reuters rescue operations were still underway and that a statement on the incident would be issued later on Thursday.

Most construction workers in the UAE are Asians, mainly from the Indian subcontinent.

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