Within an hour of deadly skyscraper blaze ...

Dubai: The picture that you see above of acrid black smoke billowing from the imposing structure on Shaikh Zayed Road is an extremely powerful image.

It is also an image that was sent in by a reader.

The capture of one harrowing split second of life as a worker falls from the smoke filled skyscraper while trying to escape will also live long in my memory, and I'm sure of that of the public.

This was also sent in by a reader.

In fact, all of the pictures accompanying this piece is surrounded by striking images and striking comments about an event which while painfully tragic, also demonstrated the importance of Gulf News readers in telling the important stories that affect everyone's lives.

Within an hour of the fire being reported, the first pictures and eyewitness accounts of the fire began trickling in.

That trickle slowly became a river, as the people who were on the spot and who witnessed both the fire and the aftermath, responded to the call to help us tell the story.

In total, more than 45 photographs of the fire were submitted; more than 30 eyewitness accounts and comments were sent in. Not to mention the people who phoned in to let us know about the fire in the first place.

As you can clearly see, without the help of the readers, Gulf News's coverage would not have been as comprehensive.

It was readers who provided us with front page pictures, who furnished us with first hand accounts from the scene and who helped tell the story of what actually happened

In the 21st century, when communication is so easy, they are the most important resource we have.

How to get in touch:
Phone: Gulf News Readers line: (04) 4067666
Web: www.gulfnews.com/aboutus
Email: Letter2editor@gulfnews.com

EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS

"I saw the helicopter trying to rescue the workers from the top floor of the building. A policeman also reached the roof of the building from the helicopter via a rope."
- N Sriram
A resident

"There was too much smoke, and people trapped inside were looking for ways to get out of it. One worker hung onto a cable wire from the 29th floor to save himself, reached the 14th floor and stood there for three hours. Everyone caught inside was trying to come out through the windows. People watching from down were praying for all stuck inside."
- Sayed Javed
A resident

"I was on my way home with my husband and son and saw many police cars and ambulances driving ahead of us at a high speed toward Jebel Ali. We thought it was a big accident but from what we saw, it was like 9/11. One of the towers was burning and the workers' heads were visible to the people in their cars below. People had parked their cars and were watching the terrible scene."
- Asma
Dubai resident

"I was driving on Shaikh Zayed Road and passed the building. The smoke was very heavy and black, coming out of the top floors. You could see labourers waiting to be rescued. Emergency vehicles drove past me when I reached the Defence Roundabout. Poor labourers. Let's pray there are not many casualties!"
- Younus
Dubai resident

"I saw with dismay emergency vehicles fighting their way through the Shaikh Zayed Road traffic. This incident highlights the fact that Civil Defence facilities are needed in Dubai Marina area, which are not there as of now nor any hospitals to treat any victims."
- Syed Imran Ali
A resident