10 dead in Abu Dhabi blaze

ABU DHABI // Ten people were killed and eight injured – some severely – when a fire ripped through an illegal workers accommodation in Mussaffah early on Friday morning.

The blaze started on the first floor – where warehouse space was being used for illegal accommodation – of a two-floor commercial building that contained seven shops and a car repair shop.

Police said they had arrested the owner of the building and that they were still trying to find out how the fire started.

Abu Dhabi Police Operations Room received a report at 3.44 in the morning that a fire had broken out in car repair workshops in the Mussaffah industrial qrea.

Firefighters from various fire stations, as well as police traffic patrols, ambulance and rescue services and detectives immediately rushed to the scene.

The injured were given first aid by medics and then taken to hospital while police and firefighters began the grizzly task of recovering the 10 bodies.

Mohammed Kalim, who works in a car repair shop in Mussaffah, said : “I don’t know the men but I feel sad. This can happen to anyone. We all want to know what happened.”

A private driving instructor, who who did not want to be named, said he did not believe the news when he first heard it.

“I was praying in the mosque near my house and I heard the men discussing it. I was heartbroken at the lives lost,”he said.

Egyptian Mohammad Saleem, who lives in Mussaffah, said: “It is very sad, and worrying as well. I hope there is an explanation to the fire, and I wish others would take note and be cautious.”

Samea Jazar, from Libya, said he had witnessed similar fires in the past few years in Mussaffah. However, he was shocked to hear the high number of deaths.

“I wish those who are injured a quick recovery and hope such issues don’t continue,” he said.

aalkhoori@thenational.ae