Inferno rips through 67-story Dubai skyscraper
All 3,820 residents from 764 apartments were evacuated safely and there were no injuries, according to the Dubai Media Office (DMO). 'Ambulance teams and medical staff are on site to offer full medical and mental support to the safely evacuated residents,' a spokesperson for the DMO said on X. Affected residents were provided with temporary housing in a coordinated effort from the authorities as well as the building's developers.
With no update on when they can return to their homes, residents have made temporary living arrangements. Prateek M, an Indian expat who lives on the 22nd floor with his wife and young son, has temporarily moved into a hotel. He told Khaleej Times: 'Neighbours from the next building shouted and told me our tower was on fire. I grabbed my son and told my wife to head straight to the emergency exit with me.'
The young family battled through thick smoke and descended the staircase. 'We had to hold on to the shoulders of the person in front of us, he said. 'Once we reached the parking levels, where it's more ventilated, we could breathe a little better.' Prateek told the publication that he hopes to return to his apartment soon to check for damage and to retrieve important documents.
'We are safe, and that's what matters. But we hope to return home soon,' Prateek said. Raza, who has lived in the building for three years, was not home when the fire broke out. He remembers the roads being blocked when he arrived at the building at 1am.
'It was clear that I wouldn't be able to go in' he said. After coming across his neighbours who had evacuated the burning building without their phones, Raza started calling taxis to get people to their friends and relatives.
Raza said he is 'grateful' that his boss has granted him time off to deal with his housing situation, adding: 'Right now, I am just waiting to know when we can go back and collect our things.' Although the cause of the fire is not yet known, shocking footage appears to show the blaze starting in the upper floors of the building.
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