Dubai: Seven families have been left homeless after a fire erupted in a residential building in Dubai's Tecom area on Saturday.
The fire at the 13-storey Saif Belhasa building behind the Grand Belvue hotel injured at least two people. Two infants were also treated for breathing difficulties after inhaling smoke.
The fire destroyed at least nine floors and damaged nine apartments. Five cars parked near the building were also damaged.
An investigation is underway to find out the case of the blaze, which started at around 9:30am. A Dubai Civil Defence Official said that the fire started in the fourth floor of the building and quickly spread to the upper floors.
"I heard screaming outside and people shouting. When I looked out the window there was debris falling. So I grabbed my phone and left. I live on the third floor and there was smoke everywhere by the time I reached the ground floor," a resident said.
Another witness who lived in a nearby building said it appeared that the the upper floors were the most damaged by the fire. "I could see flames from the balconies of the neighbouring building," said Sunny Burianek. "I left the area fifteen minutes after I heard their fire alarm go off."
Firefighters were able to put out the blaze at around 10:57am. Black smoke could be seen billowing from the roof of the building. Police have cordoned off the area.
