EAST RIFFAH, BAHRAIN // Two families have been left devastated after a blaze struck a residential building in East Riffa, about 15km south of the capital, Manama, early yesterday, killing five people.
Four members of one family perished in the fire while a couple lost their only child.
One official yesterday said faulty electrical wiring may have been the cause, leading to calls for better installation and inspection procedures.
The victims were staying in a two-bedroom apartment on the ground floor of the building, which police said housed around 20 people, when the blaze trapped most of the family as they slept.
A 73-year-old Bahraini man and his 58-year-old Sir Lankan wife died in their bed. The wife's nieces, ages 26 and 32, and a Pakistani girl, about five, who was staying with the family for the night, apparently attempted to flee, but were overcome by smoke, a police source said.
The man, his wife, the 32-year-old woman and the girl were pronounced dead at the scene; the younger niece was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
The man's two stepsons, 39 and 40, who were staying in a second room managed to escape the 1am blaze unharmed, after failing to reach the rest of their family.
"When we woke up, the blaze and smoke were engulfing the entrance of the building; we got out but they couldn't," one of the traumatised brothers told investigators at the scene as he overlooked the bodies of his deceased family, which were surrounded by firefighters and investigators.
The Pakistani girl, about whom details were not made public, was reported to be staying with the family for the night at the request of her father. Sources said the father had been working a late shift and her mother was in hospital giving birth to another child.
Riffa's municipal council representative, Waleed Hijris, said in an interview that initial indications suggest the fire was caused by bad electrical wiring.
"This was a sad tragedy that could have been averted. We need to have more awareness campaigns carried out among the public to alert them to the dangers of bad and incorrect electrical wiring as well as taking action against the vendors who carry out such jobs," he said.
No official cause for the fire has yet been identified by investigators.
mmahdi@thenational.ae
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Director: Shady Ali
Cast: Boumi Fouad , Mohamed Tharout and Hisham Ismael
Rating: 3/5
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
Biography
Favourite Meal: Chicken Caesar salad
Hobbies: Travelling, going to the gym
Inspiration: Father, who was a captain in the UAE army
Favourite read: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter
Favourite film: The Founder, about the establishment of McDonald's
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
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Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Power: 310hp
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
States of Passion by Nihad Sirees,
Pushkin Press
Scoreline
Al Wasl 1 (Caio Canedo 90 1')
Al Ain 2 (Ismail Ahmed 3', Marcus Berg 50')
Red cards: Ismail Ahmed (Al Ain) 77'
Business Insights
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- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
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