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3 Pakistanis among 16 die in Dubai building blaze

17-04-2023

Bureau Report

DUBAI/ ISLAMABAD: Sixteen (16) people including three (3) Pakistanis were dead while nine (9) others sustained injuries after a massive fire broke out in Dubai’s residential building on Saturday, Gulf News reported.

An Indian social worker Naseer Vatanappally said that they have managed to identify four Indians, three Pakistanis and a Nigerian woman.

“So far, we have managed to identify four Indians, including a couple from Kerala and two men from Tamil Nadu who worked at the building, three Pakistani cousins and a Nigerian woman,” he was quoted by the publication.

Vatanappally said that he was coordinating with Dubai Police, the Indian Consulate in Dubai, other diplomatic missions and friends and relatives of the deceased.

Dubai Civil Defence teams were working to douse the fire and urgent medical aid was provided to the injured, said a spokesperson while expressing condolences to the families of those who passed away.

The teams arrived at the site of the incident near the city’s Al Ras area within six minutes after they were alerted about the fire.

The spokesperson said that the preliminary investigations reveal a lack of compliance with building security and safety requirements that lead to the incident. However, a detailed report on what caused the fire will be provided after a comprehensive investigation.

The building caught fire at 12:35pm on Saturday and was brought under control at 2:42 pm. It broke out in an apartment on the fourth floor of the building.

The worker and a few people tried to rush into the building to help people out but were unable to do anything because of the smoke. “There was smoke everywhere and we could not see anything,” he said. “So we decided to exit the building and wait for the police. Fire engines, firemen and police officers were at the spot within minutes. They brought a crane and started helping people. Their swift action helped save many lives.”

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