Dubai: No deaths or major injuries were reported after a fire broke out in a residential tower in Dubai Marina on Wednesday.
However, three people, including a pregnant woman, suffered minor injuries, Dubai Police said.
Thirteen people were treated by paramedics after inhaling smoke, said Colonel Yusuf Al Odaidi, Director of Al Barsha Police Station. “There were three people who suffered minor injuries. A pregnant woman who inhaled smoke was immediately transferred to Latifa Hospital in Dubai where she received medical assistance and is now in a stable condition. Two western residents also suffered minor injuries and were taken to Rashid Hospital,” he said.
Around 17 apartments have been affected by the fire, he added. All inhabitants of the residential tower were evacuated within less than half an hour, according Dubai Police said.
One of the challenges faced during evacuation was with an elderly woman who couldn’t take the stairs down from the 42nd floor, which Colonel Al Odaidi said required Civil Defence teams to stay with her until they could safely exit the building.
He praised the efforts of the Civil Defence teams in dousing the fire and stopping it from spreading to other buildings. “The police supervised the process of letting residents back into their apartments after the fire was put out and made sure that their possessions were safe. They also checked the 17 apartments, which were affected by the fire.”
Experts from the forensic department have started the investigations into the cause of the fire, he added.
Civil Defence
The fire at the 75-story Sulafa Tower in the Dubai Marina was put out in a record time with no challenges faced, a Dubai Civil Defence spokesperson said.
“The fire was brought under control within two hours and now Dubai Police are investigating the cause of the fire and the amount of damage it has caused, including how many apartments and floors were affected,” the spokesperson told Gulf News.
No one was injured in the fire, which broke out at around 2.30pm on Wedesday at Sulafa Tower, located opposite Oceana Towers and Westin Hotel. Some residents were allowed back in late on Wednesday night, and hundreds had gathered outside at around 1am on Thursday.
At least a dozen fire engines and more than 50 firefighters from five centres — Al Marsa, Al Barsha, Al Quoz, Al Rashidiya and Al Satwa — came together to put out the fire.
The fast response of Civil Defence teams and Dubai Police contributed to dealing with the fire in an expert manner, said Brigadier Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Director of General Department of Criminal Investigation (CID) at Dubai Police.
“Police were quickly dispatched to the site of the fire and ensured securing people’s valuables from any theft. They also closed down all the roads leading to the fire to protect the people.”
