Fire at Dubai Construction Site

Fire at Dubai Construction Site

January 19, 2007

 

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 19
/Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Dubai's emergency 997 line received
a report of the fire at the Fortune Tower on Sheikh Zayed
Road in Dubai's Marina Distict (JAVAZ) at 1311 hours on
Thursday, 18 January, 2007. The closest fire station,
Al-Quwoz, about 12 kilometers from the site, sent one
medium intervention vehicle, one firefighting vehicle, one
water supply vehicle, and a services vehicle to the
building.  Despite significant traffic congestion, the
fire-fighting vehicles arrived by 1320 hours.  Once the
first unit arrived at the building, Civil Defense officials
assessed the situation and called in three more firefighting
and rescue units.  Two of the units worked to rescue
workers, while the third fought the fire.  Civil Defense
officials on the scene reported that the fire was not so
serious, but they said it was producing significant smoke. 
The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.

    The developer of the project is Dubai-based Nakheel,
and the prime contractor is AJM, a Malaysian Company.

    Civil Defense officials estimated that there are
approximately 300 workers employed at this site, with an
unknown number of others on site, including various
subcontractors.  The building under construction is 35
floors high.  61 workers were trapped on numerous floors
above the 20th floor and required assistance to evacuate
the site.  Four people have died to date as a result of the
fire.  Twenty-four sustained mild injuries, while 30 others
suffered moderate injuries, mostly from smoke inhalation. 
Those receiving mild to moderate injuries were treated at a
triage center, set up by the Dubai government, and released.
 One worker jumped from one of the burning floors,
apparently, out of fright, however he grabbed onto a rope
before plunging to the ground. Firefighters were able to
rescue him, and counselors on hand were able to calm him.
Those with serious injuries remain under care at Rashid
Hospital.

    According to Civil Defense reports, some evacuation
procedures were undertaken by the contractor until
firefighters arrived. Civil Defense officials then assumed
control, guiding uninjured workers to the correct exits and
assisting those who were injured in their evacuation.  Civil
Defense officials determined that it would not be safe to
use helicopters to rescue workers on the roof of the
building because the roof support scaffolding may have been
weakened by the fire, and they were concerned that the
backwash from the propellers would spread the fire more
quickly, or put workers at greater risk of injury.

    Major Rashid bin Massam al Bulflaseh of the Dubai Civil
Defense said, "Our deepest sympathies and prayers are
with the workers, their families and others affected by
this tragedy."

    "We've seen reports on the BBC of faulty
machinery.  The cause of the fire is under investigation
and it's too early to speculate.  We will release the cause
as soon as it has been determined," said Major Rashid.

    "Dubai Civil Defense would like to thank the
caller who reported this fire. We rely on the public to
provide as many details as possible so that we can respond
quickly and appropriately to such emergencies," he
concluded.

    This statement is distributed by Levick Strategic
Communications on behalf of The Executive Office, Dubai.



    For more information, please contact:

    US: 
     Elan Fabbri 
     Levick Strategic Communications 
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

    Dubai: 
     Mona al-Marri 
     JIWIN
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

    London: 
     Andrew Pharoah 
     Hill & Knowlton
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]


SOURCE  The Executive Office, Dubai