Dubai: Four workers were rescued from a fire that broke out in an under-construction tower near Burj Khalifa around 5.30am on Sunday.
Dubai Media Office identified the building as The Address Residence Fountain Views – a three 60-storey tower complex that was expected to be completed by April 2018.
The Dubai Media Office said the building belonged to property developer Emaar, and said that no casualties were reported.
Dubai Civil Defence and Dubai Police initially rescued three workers who were trapped in the fire that broke out at the building. Another worker was rescued later.
Dubai Police said that the fire was under control by 7.28am and urged motorists to take alternative routes as heavy traffic built its way along Mohammad Bin Rashid Boulevard.
Fire at Fountain Views towers has been brought under control; cooling operations are underway pic.twitter.com/QcNoBxEgjv
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 2, 2017
In a statement. Emaar thanked Dubai Civil Defence and Dubai Police for their prompt action and said it was awaiting the final report of investigation by authorities concerned.
On their Instagram account, Dubai Civil Defence posted a video and a series of photographs of Major General Rashid Thani Al Matroushi, Director-General of Dubai Civil Defence, overseeing the cooling operation at The Fountain Views, with fire trucks surrounding the area of Dubai Mall.
Major General Rashid Thani Al Matroushi said the fire stated in the car parking area on fifth floor and then spread to the seventh floor.
"We received a call at 5.35am, about a fire in Fountain Views Tower in Mohammad Bin Rashid Boulevard. The fire firefighter arrived at 5.40am. It was a big fire."
He said that the fire happened in a pile of construction materials and firefighters from eight stations extinguished the fire, "We extinguished the fire by 12 noon. We are cooling down the fire now," he added.
Meanwhile, Colonel Ahmed Atik Bu Ruqaiba, deputy director of search and rescue department in Dubai Police told Gulf News that they cooperated with civil defence teams to rescue four trapped workers.
"There were four people trapped in the building. One of them was in a critical condition because of the smoke [inhalation]. But the paramedics treated him and gave him oxygen and his condition is good now.
"The other three were also trapped but they suffered minor injuries only," Colonel Bu Ruqaiba told Gulf News.
اللواء #عبدالله_خليفة المري يتواجد في #حادث حريق في مبنى قيد الانشاء بالقرب من #دبي_مول، وقد تمت السيطرة على الحريق.#شرطة_دبي pic.twitter.com/mGp0EdlsQY
— Dubai Policeشرطة دبي (@DubaiPoliceHQ) April 2, 2017
Maj Gen Abdullah Khalifa Al Merri, Dubai Police Commander-in-Chief, was also at the scene inspecting the damage and assessing the situation at hand.
To secure the premises, authorities closed off a section of Mohammad Bin Rashid Boulevard from the cinema parking towards the flyover.
Dubai Police also closed Intersection 7 that leads to Burj Khalifa, and diverted traffic towards Fashion Avenue.
By 8.37am, Dubai Media Office confirmed that the fire was brought under control and teams of Dubai's Civil Defence were in the middle of a cooling operation to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby areas.
Mohammad Jaseem, who lives in a building in Al Murooj Complex that is opposite Dubai Mall, said his family woke up hearing the sirens of police cars and fire trucks.
"It was around 5.40am that we saw the fire. At first look we thought it was Dubai Mall that caught fire and we were in shock," Jaseem told Gulf News.
He said soon they realised it was a nearby building under construction that caught fire.
"I think the fire might have started well before 5.30am. We could see many police cars, fire trucks and rescue vehicles already at the site."
Eyewitnesses also saw helicopters and teams of fire trucks on site, as they cordoned off the areas and rushed to extinguish the flames.
The black smoke could be seen from miles away, with Dubai residents posting up videos, photos and sending out Tweets of the latest fire incident in Dubai’s downtown area.
Naseer R.V, who works at Emirates Towers, said he saw the thick plume of smoke billowing over Dubai Mall while driving on Al Khail Road around 6.15am.
"I thought it was the Address Hotel again on fire. But as I got closer it really looked like Dubai Mall is on fire. It was only when I got very close to the site that I realised it is one of those buildings under construction next to Dubai Mall. It was such a big relief to know that the mall didn't catch fire," he said.
#burjkhalifa covered with black smoke. #dubai pic.twitter.com/5kacwByIpE
— smudiac yaud (@smudiac) April 2, 2017
