UAE | General

Ajman roof crash 'pure carelessness,' says police chief

Colonel Ali Abdullah Alwan, Chief of Ajman Police, who reached the accident site at around 2.30am, said he was very angry about the incident, but also very sorry.

  • By Bassma Al Jandaly, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 23:32 June 2, 2008
  • Gulf News

Ajman: Colonel Ali Abdullah Alwan, Chief of Ajman Police, who reached the accident site at around 2.30am, said he was very angry about the incident, but also very sorry.

"There was no need for this to happen," he told Gulf News, saying that he feels very sorry for the poor workers' families. "This is pure carelessness," he said.

He quoted the site engineer saying the concrete collapsed on the workers who had gone below to check a leakage.

Preliminary reports show that the framework could not take the load of the concrete being poured and fell on the workers below.

The company, Seidco General Contracting, had taken prior permission from the Ajman Municipality to pour the concrete. The concrete was being poured for the hotel's basement ceiling.

Construction: History of accidents

October 16, 2003: Fifteen people were injured when a recently-cast roof of a school building in Nadayat area (Al Ain), which was under construction, caved in.

February 13, 2004: A roof of a building under construction in Al Dhaid, Sharjah collapsed when the beams to support them where not properly fixed killing six workers.

September 27, 2004: Workers died when a steel mesh designed to reinforce a 15 by 60-metre support wall, which is a part of the construction project at Dubai International Airport, fell down.

May 10, 2005: A wall under construction at Dubai Media City collapsed killing one construction worker and injuring five others.

May 29, 2006: A construction hoist crashed to the ground from 15th floor of a building killing one worker and injuring five others.

January 17, 2007: A roof of a parking lot under construction caved in killing one worker and injuring four others in Dubai Academic City.

April 16, 2007: One worker was killed and four were seriously injured when a septic tank collapsed in a building under construction in Ajman.

September 5, 2007: A mosque under construction in Adhah, Ras Al Khaimah collapsed. An Indian labourer died and 14 Asian labourers were injured.

October 21, 2007: Two workers were killed instantly when the wall of the building under construction in Bani Yas Road collapsed on them.

November 8, 2007: A bridge under construction collapsed on Sufouh Road killing seven workers and injuring more than 20 people.

November 29, 2007: Scaffolding of a building under construction collapsed in Dubai Marina, killing two workers.

- Staff Report

Specialisation: Rescue departments

The rescue department has four sections, each specialising in their own areas. There is the sea rescue team which helps people drowning or people lost when they sail out due to bad weather.

There is also an air wing.

Police Rescue currently has 345 military and civil personnel and plans to increase the number to 900 within the next five years.

In 1992, the Difficult Missions Team was set up to deal with natural disasters, people trapped in high rises and rescuing people lost in the desert and the mountainous areas. There is a 49-man team in this section.

The Police Rescue department is internationally approved by the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG).

- Alia Al Theeb, Staff Reporter

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