At least one person was killed and others injured when a fire engulfed a fireworks warehouse in Dubai on Wednesday, police said, causing an explosion and bringing parts of the city to a standstill.

Witnesses said the blaze in the Al Quoz industrial district of the Gulf trade and tourism hub sent a cloud of thick, black smoke into the sky and ash raining down. Fire engines and ambulances rushed to the blaze, which broke out before the morning rush hour and spread to surrounding depots and workshops. Nearby schools were closed.

The fire has now been extinguished, residents said. It was not clear what caused the blaze. Fires are common in the United Arab Emirates, which is going through a construction boom. A number of fires broke out in industrial districts, port storage depots and on building sites last year.

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