UAE | Emergencies
Scaffolding collapse kills two workers at Abu Dhabi site
Third survives fall from seventh level of structure under construction
- By Iman Sherif, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 January 3, 2012
- Image Credit: Ahmed Kutty/Gulf News
- The building under construction on Hamdan Street in Abu Dhabi where scaffolding collapsed casing the deaths of two workers.
Abu Dhabi: Two workers died and a third was seriously injured when their scaffolding collapsed from the seventh level of a building under construction opposite Al Maraya Cinema in the city.
The cause of the accident is yet unknown and the police said they have started their investigation. However, an eyewitness reported that the workers were standing on the scaffolding, which was level with the seventh floor, to load heavy equipment when it broke, plunging the workers to their death.
"The three workers fell from 40 metres high. The scaffolding was erected on an elevator ditch at the side which went three levels below the surface of the site," said A.K. from the site, who only gave his initials.
"One of the victims died instantly from severe head injuries as he fell on steel bars at the ground level. Emergency workers had difficulty identifying the man due to severe facial injuries," he said.
According to A.K., another worker was pronounced dead 30 minutes after the accident at the hospital where he was transported by emergency ambulance. He had fractures and severe internal injuries.
Cause not known yet
A worker at the site, who requested to remain anonymous, said the cause was unknown but added the heavy equipment which was supposed to be fixed by the workers was not the reason behind the scaffolding's collapse.
He confirmed that the scaffolding broke and fell from the seventh floor into the elevator ditch. However, he said only one workers died at the site and two were taken to Shaikh Khalifa Hospital.
"The accident happened shortly before 2:00pm, after the workers had completed their lunch break.
"A call from the hospital confirmed the death on arrival of the second worker. I think the third will survive as he sustained injuries that were not so major. The three workers were from the subcontinent region," he said.
The hospital refused to comment on the condition of the injured worker. A source from the hospital said police has started their investigations and the hospital was not authorised to give any information to the press.
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