Tenants of gutted tower look for new homes

Sharjah: It is unlikely that the tenants of Al Bakr Tower 4 would want to live in the building again though police said power would be reconnected next week.

"I am looking for another flat and do not want to live here again, even if the municipality assures us that it is safe. I lost my trust in the building's management and do not think they reacted appropriately," Hadil Eleyan, who lived in flat 1403, said.

Weary tenants returned to their destroyed flats on Friday or a second day in a row to collect their belongings. The 25-storey building remains closed until further notice and Sharjah Police confirmed that the electricity will be reconnected sometime next week.

This news provided little assurance to tenants since more than half of the apartments have been destroyed by the fire.

There are five flats on each floor, and only two of those on each floor were left unscathed by the blaze.

"The real estate agent gave me only Dh400 to spend for two days. I'm living with friends, and came here today for my clothes and personal belongings. Once the electricity is back, I'll take the furniture and find another place to live," Hadil said.

Wednesday's fire in the building located in Al Taawun area that left as many as 125 families homeless. Most returned to their flats on Friday to gather clothes as well as children's school uniforms and books. Gurvinder Singh, 41, went to his flat on the 13th floor to collect his children's school books since they have not attended school in the past two days.

"I'm living with a friend and am looking for a vacant apartment in that building. My real estate agent provided an alternative residential building to move into, but I don't want to take any chances because I'm afraid," he said.

A police dispatch was on guard at the high-rise tower to ensure that trespassers do not take advantage of the situation and loot the empty flats.

Imdadun Haq from flat 1901 said he was grateful that Sharjah Charity set his family up in accommodation along Immigration Road. Haq, whose flat was unaffected by the fire, stressed that he will be, "taking up accommodation somewhere else because I do not feel safe in this building".

On Friday morning, Haq checked that all the furniture and decorative items in his flat were still intact, so that they could be used later on when relocating to his new home.