A large fire broke out in a residential building in Abu Dhabi on Friday night.
Residents of Al Nahyan area reported hearing a loud bang at around 8.30pm followed by numerous sirens as fire trucks from Civil Defence rushed to the scene.
The fire quickly spread along a 12-storey residential building on Al Marwu Street, near Mediclinic Al Mamora, as police cordoned off the area and turned residents away.
The sound was really strong. It was as if a gas pipe or cylinder exploded and shook the place
A resident of a neighbouring building said he heard a loud bang and went down to see what was happening. Groups of people had already begun to gather.
Large plumes of smoke billowed into the air as pieces of flaming debris fell to the floor.
"From where I stood, the fire looked huge. Bits of burning debris were falling to the ground and ash was beginning to fall on people," he said.
"Police were there within minutes cordoning off the area and ushering people away.
At 11.30pm, police issued a statement saying the fire had been extinguished and residents who suffered smoke inhalation were taken to hospital.
The building was evacuated as soon as police arrived and Civil Defence managed to prevent the fire from spreading to neighbouring buildings.
Police said the fire broke out on the seventh floor of the building but the cause has yet to be determined.
Cooling operations were under way on Friday night.
Eyewitnesses said the area was cordoned off.
"The sound was really strong. It was as if a gas pipe or cylinder exploded and shook the place," said Mohammed Ahmed, 24, an Egyptian assistant chef in a sweetshop next door.
"When I was in the shop and heard the first explosion I thought it was a bomb. The place was shaking, so I immediately went out to see what happened.
"We saw fire coming out of a window, and fire balls were dropping on the ground. Then the fire escalated to the upper floor, and we heard the same bang again."
"The firefighters arrived in four or five minutes. I live near Al Wahda Mall, which is about 5km away. It was really loud and even my roommates heard it."
Rose Macamay, 45, from the Philippines, said her friend lives in the building.
“She has a three-month-old baby and her mother was with her. They were very scared," she said.
"They stayed outside the building for three hours until they could find a place to stay."
She said the street was crowded with residents.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Children who witnessed blood bath want to help others
Aged just 11, Khulood Al Najjar’s daughter, Nora, bravely attempted to fight off Philip Spence. Her finger was injured when she put her hand in between the claw hammer and her mother’s head.
As a vital witness, she was forced to relive the ordeal by police who needed to identify the attacker and ensure he was found guilty.
Now aged 16, Nora has decided she wants to dedicate her career to helping other victims of crime.
“It was very horrible for her. She saw her mum, dying, just next to her eyes. But now she just wants to go forward,” said Khulood, speaking about how her eldest daughter was dealing with the trauma of the incident five years ago. “She is saying, 'mama, I want to be a lawyer, I want to help people achieve justice'.”
Khulood’s youngest daughter, Fatima, was seven at the time of the attack and attempted to help paramedics responding to the incident.
“Now she wants to be a maxillofacial doctor,” Khulood said. “She said to me ‘it is because a maxillofacial doctor returned your face, mama’. Now she wants to help people see themselves in the mirror again.”
Khulood’s son, Saeed, was nine in 2014 and slept through the attack. While he did not witness the trauma, this made it more difficult for him to understand what had happened. He has ambitions to become an engineer.
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In Praise of Zayed
A thousand grains of Sand whirl in the sky
To mark the journey of one passer-by
If then a Cavalcade disturbs the scene,
Shall such grains sing before they start to fly?
What man of Honour, and to Honour bred
Will fear to go wherever Truth has led?
For though a Thousand urge him to retreat
He'll laugh, until such counsellors have fled.
Stands always One, defiant and alone
Against the Many, when all Hope has flown.
Then comes the Test; and only then the time
Of reckoning what each can call his own.
History will not forget: that one small Seed
Sufficed to tip the Scales in time of need.
More than a debt, the Emirates owe to Zayed
Their very Souls, from outside influence freed.
No praise from Roderic can increase his Fame.
Steadfastness was the Essence of his name.
The changing years grow Gardens in the Sand
And build new Roads to Sand which stays the same.
But Hearts are not rebuilt, nor Seed resown.
What was, remains, essentially Alone.
Until the Golden Messenger, all-wise,
Calls out: "Come now, my Friend!" - and All is known
- Roderic Fenwick Owen
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GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
