Abu Dhabi: There was no casualty in a major fire that broke out in an old seven- storey residential building on Airport Road in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, officials told Gulf News.
"There was no casualty but some residents received minor injuries while escaping from the fire", Police officials on the scene said.
Police and fire force extinguished the fire after a three-hour long effort. Four floors of the building and several cars parked under it have been damaged.
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The fire broke out in the Awafi Trading building between 3:30 pm and 4 pm, according to the eyewitnesses. The building housing families has only one shop - a furniture showroom on the ground floor. Eyewitnesses said the fire erupted from the shop and flames and thick smoke enveloped the entire building.
Police and Fire force reached the scene immediately and started the rescue operations.
Most of the residents ran out of the building through the staircase, after hearing the noise outside, the eyewitnesses said.
"I was lying on the bed and my wife was in the kitchen while we heard the noise outside," said Premnath, an Indian who was residing on the second floor of the building. "We ran out of the flat and reached outside safely," he said. "We looked helplessly from outside…my flat was totally getting burned and my new Toyota corolla car parked under the building also got damaged," said Nath who has been living in the building for around five years.
When more fire engines joined the rescue missions, the police blocked one side of the Airport Road. They extinguished the fire by 7 pm.
The officials noted the names of the residents of the building. They said they are trying to help the residents by all means.
