A fire has swept through the Torch skyscraper in Dubai, one of the tallest residential buildings in the world, BBC News reports.

Strong winds helped the blaze to spread across the 336.1m high building in the marina district.

One eyewitness told the BBC "there was debris flying everywhere, falling into neighbouring buildings". The fire was later brought under control.

It is not known what caused the blaze. Hundreds of people were evacuated and there are no reports of any casualties.

The 79-storey Torch skyscraper opened in 2011.

In 2012, a fire swept through the 34-storey Tamweel Tower in Dubai.

No-one was injured, however hundreds of residents were left homeless after the blaze which police said was caused by a cigarette butt.