When fire broke out at The Address in Downtown Dubai on New Year’s Eve, the whole world could see the professional and efficient way in which the authorities and ordinary people dealt with the disaster. We join Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in applauding each member of the Civil Defence team who fought the flames and protected the residents and many visitors who came to take part in Dubai’s famous New Year celebrations and to watch the spectacular annual firework display.
Although the fire spread quickly across one face of the 63-storey tower, the worst of the disaster was contained before midnight and, thankfully, there were no fatalities. The 16 people who were injured received prompt treatment at the scene and transport to hospital.
It was all coordinated from the highest levels, with Sheikh Mohammed’s son, Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed, donning firefighting gear to assist on the ground and Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, taking a hands-on supervisory role. Dubai also rose to the occasion by being able to carry on with the fireworks display at the Burj Khalifa just a few hours after the fire broke out.
After the event, the Dubai government announced that alternative accommodation would be offered to the evacuated residents and hotel guests. There was also a heart-warming show of solidarity from ordinary Emiratis and expatriate residents who used the Twitter hashtag #NeedAnAddress to offer meals, showers and accommodation to the displaced occupants of The Address. The fact that the hashtag went viral, receiving millions of impressions within minutes, demonstrated – not for the first time – that this is a country where people of all backgrounds pull together to help those in need.
It is far too early to say what caused the fire. We hope, and confidently expect, that the authorities will conduct a thorough investigation, learn whatever lessons need to be learnt and do whatever is needed to prevent a similar occurrence.
What is important now, as Sheikh Mohammed said on Friday, is that despite the fire “Dubai continued to shine with positivity and modernity”.
