Workers have narrow escape in Abu Dhabi building fire
abu dhabi – A fiery disaster was averted on Tuesday and many lives saved in the capital thanks to timely intervention by local civil defence and firefighting services.
A fire broke out at two residential-hotel high-rise buildings under construction in Al Zahiya locality, Abu Dhabi, on Tuesday. The blaze was contained by the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence and rapid intervention squads.
The workers in both towers, who had been trapped by the blaze, were rescued using ladders used in such situations by the civil defence personnel. Around 13 people, including 10 civil defense and rapid intervention personnel, sustained minor cases of suffocation.
On the ground, the firefighting operations were overseen by Major Jasim Mohammed Al Marzooqi, General Commander of the Civil Defence of the Ministry of Interior, and Lt. Colonel Mohammed Abdul Jalil Al Ansari, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Civil Defense.
“Investigation is underway to identify the circumstances and causes of the fire,” Al Ansari pointed out.
What caused the fire?
There are conflicting versions as to how the fire broke out. A worker said it happened on the 23rd floor where welding work was going on.
“There were a lot of foam, plastic and other flammable materials. I was on the 22nd floor, when a co-worker felt something fall on him. Soon, we realised a fire had broken out and we rushed down,” he said.
Another eyewitness said the fire started from the ground floor and spread upwards. “It could be a short circuit or an air-conditioner exploding that caused the fire. The major blaze broke out on the ground floor of the hotel project portion.”
A site supervisor said that more than 1,000 workers are working on the project. “They start work at 6am,” he said. “All of them are safe. One person was stuck inside but he too has been rescued.”
According to Al Ansary, the fire
13 people sustained minor injuries due to suffocation
was reported to the operations room around 10:50am. Instantly, the Civil Defence squads from Al Bateen Al Madinah Civil Defence centres and rapid intervention units from Khalifa City, Al Qubaisat and Mussafah, Al Maqta, Al Falah and Al Mina Street, all rushed to the scene of the blaze. The firefighters smothered the fire and prevented it from spreading to the surrounding buildings.
People living in a building next door were evacuated with assistance from the UAE Red Crescent, which secured temporary shelters to the affected occupants, Lt. Col Al Ansari said.
Traffic on the Al Maryah Island Bridge was blocked and vehicles on Abu Dhabi Mall road were diverted. The contracting firm Ghantoot Group, managing the construction of the buildings, has an onsite office. “All of us were immediately evacuated,” a staff member of the firm said.
“This project started 2013-end or early 2014. We were set to finish the project by November and hand it over to Rotana,” he said.
The staff said the project was part residential and part hotel.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com