UAE | General

Two dead after Dubai building fire

Two construction workers were killed and 37 were injured, including when a fire engulfed a high rise building under construction on Shaikh Zayed Road, opposite Dubai Marina.

  • By Mahmood Saberi and Sunita Menon, Staff Reporters
  • Published: 00:00 January 18, 2007
  • Gulf News

  • The fire started in the Fortune Tower on Thursday afternoon
  • Image Credit: David Renkwitz/Gulf News reader
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Dubai: Two construction workers were killed and 37 were injured, including when a fire engulfed a high rise building under construction on Shaikh Zayed Road, opposite the Dubai Marina.

However, Rashid hospital officials put the toll at four and said 67 were injured.

The injuries varied between minor, medium and serious. four serious injuries.

Emergency services had battled to rescue dozens of labourers who were left trapped after the Fortune Building in the Jumeirah Lake Towers development caught fire.

An eyewitness said she saw a man fall off the tower as he was trying to climb down to escape the fire, which started on Thursday afternoon.

Witnesses said workers had also crowded on the top floors of under-construction building in the Jumeirah Lake Towers development.

Gulf News staff member Louise Olson, said: "Black clouds of smoke were billowing out from the middle floors and all the way to the top of the unfinished building where most of the workers were watching and waving to the firefighters for help.

"Some managed to lower themselves into the open windows below, while at least one man tragically lost his grip and fell."

Gulf News photographer Rangarajan added: "I see a helicopter trying to reach some of them."

Traffic tailed back from Dubai Marina to Jebel Ali, while the smoke that poured out of the building could be seen for miles.

Gulf News readers have been sending in their pictures and eye witness accounts of the fire. Click on the link on the right hand side of the page to see them.

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