Rio, a British holidaymaker, has described scenes of sheer terror after what appeared to be a missile smashed into the ground just yards from a packed beach club in Dubai.

Rio had been enjoying an evening with friends at the Beach Club on the Palm, Jumeirah, described how the group had been walking towards the exit when they heard “a really, really loud noise… like something coming down extremely fast.”

“We looked up,” he said, “and it was what looked to be a missile. It just smashed down probably about 15 to 20 feet in front of us.” Reports from other eyewitnesses confirmed this incident. 

Within seconds, panic took hold.

“Everybody just fled, we ran back in and the building was shaking. Stuff was falling on our heads. We didn’t know what to do.”

‘Orange Fireballs’ in the Sky

Moments later, staff instructed terrified guests to run out onto the beach. But they felt no safer there either.

“We were all on the beach on the Palm. I just didn’t feel safe at all. We didn’t know where to go.”

Looking at the sky, he saw what he initially believed to be a barrage of incoming missiles.

“There were loads of orange, fireball-looking things… just firing down towards us. It looked like about 30 of them in the sky, shooting across really, really fast.”

Explosions could be heard near the hotel. Friends became separated in the chaos as people scattered in every direction.

“It was a free-for-all,” he said. “I lost all my friends. I just sprinted.”

In desperation, he ran through a nearby restaurant kitchen as staff continued cooking amid the mayhem. At one point, he considered jumping into a swimming pool; “I don’t know why, I just didn’t know what to do.”

Shelter Underground

Ultimately, many sought refuge in an underground car park, where they remained, for what felt like an eternity.

“Five minutes before that, one missile or whatever it was, had landed right in front of us, and then there were what looked like 30 more in the sky.”

For now it is unclear precisely what caused the explosions and fiery streaks witnessed over the Palm. Authorities in Dubai have yet to release a detailed public explanation.

What is beyond dispute is the fear felt by those caught up in the incident.

“We just didn’t know where to go,” he said. “I’ve never been that scared in my life.”

Watchman will provide live updates as we receive them, our thoughts and prayers are with all of those who are affected.