Fujairah: A man recently died after he fell into a chemical waste dump in Fujairah.
The Emirati man, identified as S.Y,, who was in his 60s, succumbed to the severe burns he sustained after falling in the dump.
The police said investigations are ongoing to determine how the man died.
The police said the man was probably looking for firewood to keep warm during the winter, a habit that is common among elderly Emiratis.
Three days ago, two children also fell in the chemical waste dump area and sustained severe burns. Ali Saeed, father of one of the children, told Gulf News: "The two children are being treated for severe burns at Al Wasl Hospital. This area specifically does not have any fences and one cannot make out that it is a waste dump area. Today [Monday] I saw there were chains put up but previously there was nothing and anyone can go in."
He claimed there were no warning signs or fences around the area.
Abdul Rahman Al Afkham, Head of Health Section at Fujairah Municipality, told Gulf News that they will post more signs around the dump area besides the sign that states clearly it is a waste dump area. Anyone who who does not carry a permit will not be allowed to enter it.
"There is already a small fence around the area and a guard, but some people just do not listen and want to do what they like.
"We call on the public to avoid getting close to any waste dump because these are hazardous areas," he said.
According to sources, the chemical dump where the two incidents took place is known as Al Qareen dump and it is a vast area where municipality and sewage waste is dumped as well as waste from a nearby cement factory. The waste includes flammable chemical waste.
