British boxer Chris Eubank Jr posted a video on social media suggesting he’s close in proximity to a fire in Dubai amid heightened hostilities in the Middle East.
The United States and Israel’s joint military operation, Epic Fury, targeted sites in Iran late February 27, which prompted retaliation with missile strikes on Israel, US bases in the Gulf, and other regions. Multiple regional airspaces since closed amid a broad state of emergency.
On February 28, the UAE intercepted several Iranian ballistic miles over Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Authorities there suspended all fights at Dubai International Airport, and briefly evacuated the Burj Khalifa as a precaution.
Eubank Jr’s video shows a building burning in Dubai. “Explosions going off on the Dubai Plam right now,” he said. “Please everyone be safe.”
A Boxing Social source in Dubai, close to the incident, said much of the damage in the area is “missile debris from intercepts” but that it regardless presents a dangerous situation because houses still shake, and things are so loud it seems like property roofs are falling in.
Eubank isn’t the only prominent figure within the boxing community to be affected by the escalating conflict, as innovating executive Kalle Sauerland also posted a video in which he zoomed in on an explosion which could barely be seen through hazy smoke.
“Crazy s*** in Dubai tonight,” he said in an accompanying post on X. “This just happened.”
“Something definitely landed, heard it from my balcony and can now see the smoke. Stay safe.”
He also posted the following:
The fire Eubank recorded is reported to be at the Fairmont Hotel on the Palm Jumeirah. While the UAE’s air defenses intercepted much of the missiles, the ‘spent’ debris from high-altitude intercepts caused significant surface damage.
In other sports, Formula 1 is in disarray as hundreds of personnel heading to Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix are stranded by the closure of Dubai and Doha airport hubs, with teams rerouting staff to bypass Middle Eastern airspace and ensure the season opener proceeds as planned on March 8.