Dubai: More than 40 families left homeless after their building was gutted on Monday, were provided a place to stay for the next three months by their landlord.
In cooperation with Dubai Police’s Human Rights Department, Hamad Al Shamsi, the owner of the building that was gutted in a massive fire on Salah Al Deen Street, put up some 48 families in hotels on Monday and Tuesday, bearing all expenses.
Brigadier Mohammad Abdullah Al Murr, Director of the Dubai Police Human Rights Department, said that the owner took the initiative when the fire erupted.
The building has 48 three-bedroom apartments, each housing between six and nine people.
A Civil Defence spokesperson said the building consists of six blocks and three blocks were affected by the fire.
“Twenty-four units were burnt and another 24 were indirectly affected by the fire. The cause of the fire or where it started is unclear due to the size of the property affected. The cause will be known once the Dubai Police forensics teams conduct their investigation,” he said.
He said the cooling process continued well into Tuesday, adding that there were no reports of injuries or fatalities.
Brig Al Murr added that residents were not allowed back into the building for their own safety, and so nothing is moved or changed, which can hinder or affect the results of the investigation.
Brigadier Ali Ganem, director of Al Muraqqabat police station, said there were an additional six shops affected by the fire, of which three belong to the owner.
He said the station did not receive any complaints from residents about any valuables in their homes.
Following the forensics experts’ investigation, Brig Al Ganem said, the cost of the damages can be accessed by the relevant parties.
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