SHARJAH // A huge fire ripped through four paint warehouses yesterday, forcing police to evacuate homes and businesses and shepherd hundreds of people to safety. It took more than five hours for firefighters to extinguish the blaze at National Paints. One firefighter and one worker suffered minor burns. Both were discharged from hospital after treatment. A firefighting vehicle went up in smoke.
More than 20 residential and business buildings were evacuated. Among those moved were about 100 workers in National Paints accommodation. Workshops, warehouses and offices remained closed. The fire, which started around 9.30am, was fed by highly flammable materials, such as paint and chemicals, said Col Waheed al Serkal, the director of Sharjah Civil Defence. Smoke could be seen as far away as Garhoud in Dubai and Julfa in Ajman.
"All firefighters in the country are here, from Abu Dhabi to Ras Khaimah, Dubai, Al Ain and Ajman," said Col al Serkal. "We have more than 250 firefighters here. It's the biggest fire we have seen this year." Major Gen Hamid al Hudaidi, the director general of Sharjah Police, said the area around the warehouses was cordoned off and the authorities drew up a plan to prevent the fire spreading to nearby factories and residences. A mobile hospital was set up in anticipation of injuries or cases of smoke inhalation.
An employee of a UAE Exchange outlet, which had to shut for the day, said: "Before we knew about the fire, police [were] already asking us to vacate the building and close the exchange immediately. We moved out to see a big fire in our neighbourhood." Emirates and Maliha roads were among routes that were closed to allow firefighters easy access to the scene of the blaze, said Col Ahmed bin Darwish, the head of Sharjah Police's patrol unit.
Up to 20 patrols were deployed to control traffic and direct motorists to alternative roads, he added. However, the closure of Emirates Road caused traffic chaos, leaving many people late for work as they struggled to find alternative routes. "I spent 30 minutes moving around to find a right road to Dubai," said Hussein Hilal, 30, an Iraqi who works in Dubai. "Every road I reached was closed and patrol police could only advise to go back."
Fire experts were on the scene to help determine the cause of the blaze, said Abdullah Sultan al Mullah, a spokesman for Sharjah Police. "We have set up a committee to help investigate the fire," he said. "The committee includes firefighters, police officials and officials from the Ministry of Interior from Abu Dhabi. "In a few days, they should be able to make a report on the causes and recommendations of how similar fires can be avoided in the future."
Some of those evacuated said they had learned a lesson from previous fires and knew what to take with them. One worker, who identified himself as Rochie, said two years ago his old company accommodation in the Sajja industrial area was gutted by fire. "We were not given new mattresses and for three days we had no accommodation," he said. "This time, if the same happens, I will at least have my mattress and can sleep anywhere." ykakande@thenational.ae
March 2010 Two warehouses gutted and 20 are damaged after fire breaks out at oil based lubricants warehouse in the Industrial Area. October 2009 The warehouse of a carpet factory at the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone is destroyed. June 2009 Two furniture factories in the Industrial Area are ravaged. March and April 2009 Two warehouses gutted in the Industrial Area. 2008 A football stadium, two construction sites and two Industrial Area sites all severely damaged.
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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TOP%2010%20MOST%20POLLUTED%20CITIES
%3Cp%3E1.%20Bhiwadi%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Ghaziabad%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Hotan%2C%20China%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Delhi%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Jaunpur%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E6.%20Faisalabad%2C%20Pakistan%0D%3Cbr%3E7.%20Noida%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E8.%20Bahawalpur%2C%20Pakistan%0D%3Cbr%3E9.%20Peshawar%2C%20Pakistan%0D%3Cbr%3E10.%20Bagpat%2C%20India%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20IQAir%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Essentials
The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.
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UAE%20FIXTURES
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
RESULT
Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2
Arsenal: Aubameyang (13')
Chelsea: Jorginho (83'), Abraham (87')
MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
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David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
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More coverage from the Future Forum
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh359,000
On sale: now
Results
Stage 7:
1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29
2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time
3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious
4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM
General Classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35
3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02
4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The biog
Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists.
Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.
Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic
