Improve fire safety
First, we have to be thankful that it seems no one was seriously hurt in this situation (‘Massive fire erupts at Torch tower in Dubai Marina’, Gulf News, February 22). There seems to be great praise for the fire and rescue services that, in my experience, are first rate in Dubai. However, having owned several apartments in different towers in Dubai, there is a massive difference in building and operational quality between different towers in not only Dubai, but in the Marina area specifically where there is a high concentration of these towers. This particular tower has had almost daily fire alarm incidents over the past three years. We should not jump the gun here until we know the reason for this disaster, but this really needs to be a wake-up call for some of the not-so-responsible developers to realise their wider responsibilities to their residents and clients. There are some wonderful developers, but there are also some real cowboys.
From Mr John
Torgoen, UK
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Amazing work
This is such a frightening story, especially as many comments say that the buildings are so close in the Marina. I am so very relieved that no one has been seriously hurt! I have to say thanks to God for the amazing job the fire fighters did in what must have been impossible circumstances with a particularly raging sandstorm! We are blessed to live in a city and country with such a vigilant security system!
From Ms Gabriella Hansson-Boe
Dubai
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Great reporting
Gulf News has shown great reporting on this incident! It sounds as if the prompt action by the Dubai Police and everyone saved them from a massive disaster. I’m sure Gulf News’ online readers would want to hear exactly how the fire was dealt with as there are many vulnerable towers across the world.
From Mr C. Brown
London, UK
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Sort it soon
It will be interesting to see when those unlucky tenants are able to get back in. The Tamweel Tower fire that hit in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) in November 2012, which gutted several apartments, has not had any work done or allowed the tenants back in. Now almost three years have passed and the building is still an eyesore.
From Mr Peter Locke
Stuttgart, Germany
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Quick reaction
The biggest dangers to these beautiful buildings are the closeness of the structures to each other. My congratulations go to the firefighters in Dubai. They got together, controlled the fire in a very quick way and ensured that many lives were saved.
From Ms Lorna
Johannesburg, South Africa
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Credible alarm systems
Let’s pray no one is hurt by this incident and may God save all of us from such disasters. Again we must point out that false fire alarms were a constant issue in most of the cases. Once people realise fire alarms are fake, then even if it’s real, people won’t believe it. There is a serious need for the authorities to take stringent action on those buildings with false fire alarms. Each and every fire alarm incident must be recorded and action should be taken. I personally have witnessed two to three incidents while living in Sharjah, where residents would continue sleeping in the burning apartments because they thought it was a false alarm. Pushing for a credible fire alarm system is the need of the hour.
From Mr Haneef Puttur
Abu Dhabi
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All too familiar history
The people who support the lack of intervention from the West by saying it’s not their problem, need to be reminded that Daesh didn’t exist in Iraq when former President Saddam Hussain was in power (‘Daesh might be harvesting organs’, Gulf News, February 19). Regardless of his tyrannical rule, people had livelihoods, security existed more or less and Iraq was known for more than just a battlefield. When the US came in with the intentional delusional concept of weapons of mass destruction, which were never found, the process destroyed a sovereign country and then left without cleaning up its own mess. It’s an all too common story of America’s historical wars. So the people who keep blaming Daesh for everything need to elevate themselves from apathetic darkness.
From Mr Ahmad
Sharjah
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Learn from UAE
All the news channels, the United Nations, the US and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) forces will keep singing the song that Daesh is terrorist group, but no one is wiping them out. Why is this? Daesh is receiving funding from somewhere.
From Mr Naresh Kumar Devra
Dubai
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Unfounded
In response to Naresh Kumar Devra, it is indeed true that large amounts of cash has been routed through various nation states to Daesh, however it has not come from the US government. They are aware of it and are trying to shut it down. To those who suggest that the US is funding Daesh is just wrong. Please provide proof.
From Mr Jack
Dubai
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Help from others
It’s absolutely ludicrous to suggest that the West is funding Daesh. If other Eastern countries hadn’t taken a back seat to intervention proposals, their opinion may be worth more. The fact is that there were joyous scenes when the West toppled Hussain, followed by criticism of the West’s actions. So this time around, the US says they will not send troops and now the Iraqis are begging them to come.
From Mr John
Dubai
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A global strategy
It’s a shame and a stain on the world’s superpowers that have their hands on the best of technology, equipment and human resources that they cannot counter such militants, gangs and terrorists. The war on terror has not helped, but it has created these menaces. It’s high time they create a basic fundamental strategy where they take responsibility for their own credibility by following the rules set out in good faith. They need to explore all means of support they can offer to the war ridden countries of the world and win people’s hearts by dismissing hatred, which has risen immensely at the cost of their war on terror. This will isolate these terrorists and may also change their minds as we should look at a cure for this hatred growing on both sides, leading the world nowhere.
From Mr A.J.
Dubai
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Irresponsible playing
In the ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this year, if Pakistan had included another young all-rounder instead of Shahid Afridi, the team would’ve looked better (‘Afridi verbally abuses Pakistan fielding coach’, Gulf News, February 19). I felt that 98 per cent of the time Afridi got out in an irresponsible manner. Once in a blue moon kind of innings clinches his place for another year or two. If he had played sensibly, a win against India would’ve been possible.
From Ms Maria Kutty
Dubai
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Bring out the legends
Why are they not using legends like Wasim Akram, Imran Khan and the rest? Akram is ready to help the team, but no one in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is ready to hire him. This is the PCB. They can spend a lot on coaches from other teams, but not on their own legends. We don’t need any other team players to help us, we have our own legends to help us. The PCB is playing the game itself since 1999.
From Mr Ebrahim Abdullah
Dubai
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Reduce and recycle
I would like to share my simple ways of trying to reduce the carbon footprint of my family. I absolutely hate plastic, hence to avoid borrowing plastic bags while shopping for fruits and vegetables from our local vegetable vendor, I carry my own nylon bags. Not only are they reusable for a number of years, but also they are easy to wash and good for storing vegetables and fruits in them because they are very convenient and hygienic. These bags have been bought in my home town of Mumbai and they cost very little. It is just about Dh2 for three bags and it is almost equal to a bottle of soda.
Through this letter I would like to appeal to the municipality of Abu Dhabi to set up more collection centers around the city so as to encourage everyone to participate towards conserving and saving the environment from further damage.
From Mr I. K.
Full name withheld on request
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