Five people have been confirmed dead after a fire in a high-rise building in Sharjah as police say an investigation into the cause is under way.
The number of deaths was confirmed by a senior figure from the force on Tuesday, who said forensic experts were at the scene of the blaze to ascertain its cause. A further 19 people were injured in the fire on Sunday.
The fire broke out without warning in the building, the name of which has yet to be released by authorities, leaving residents in a scramble for safety, with hundreds forced to flee their homes by emergency services.
“We deeply regret the loss of life and extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families of the victims,” said Brig Gen Dr Ahmed Saeed Al Naour, director general of operations and security support at Sharjah Police.
“From the moment the report was received, specialised teams were deployed with full readiness to carry out evacuation procedures and ensure the safety of residents in the building and neighbouring towers.”
Police in Sharjah received an emergency call about a fire in one of the apartments on the top floor of the building at 11.31am. Emergency teams, including civil defence and ambulance units, were immediately sent to the scene.
The area was cordoned off and traffic redirected to allow access to emergency vehicles and firefighting teams to tackle the blaze and evacuate residents, Brig Gen Al Naour said.
Rescue efforts were co-ordinated between the emergency services with support from Emirates Red Crescent, which "played a vital role in minimising casualties and preventing further injuries".
