Dubai fireworks blaze kills two

BBC News website reader Bruno Schmetz sent in this photo

A massive blast at a fireworks warehouse in Dubai has killed at least two people and sparked a huge blaze tackled by more than 100 firefighters.

The explosion happened at around 0700 (0300 GMT) in the al-Quoz Industrial Area, which is home to hundreds of businesses and factories.

Strong winds quickly spread the flames, engulfing warehouses and creating a huge pall of smoke above the city.

Police said the blaze had caused tens of millions of dollars of damage.

One Dubai warehouse manager said: "There was a huge explosion and it looked like a nuclear mushroom."

Dubai's Civil Defence said "inappropriate storage of fireworks" may have caused the explosion.