Hero resident hailed for rescuing girl, 11, from Sharjah tower blaze

Mohammed Al Saudi broke down door to take child to safety as flames engulfed Abbco Tower on Tuesday

Mohammed Al Saudi (left) is honoured for his selfless actions by Col Sami Al Naqbi, director-general of Sharjah Civil Defence. Courtesy Sharjah Civil Defence

A hero resident who rescued a girl, 11, from a fire that tore through a Sharjah tower block has been honoured for his act of bravery.

Mohammed Al Saudi broke down the youngster's apartment door and took her to safety after hearing her cries for help as flames swept through the high-rise Abbco Tower on Tuesday evening.

The girl was alone and trapped inside her home because her mother had locked the door before leaving the first-floor flat.

"He broke down the door and freed the child, who was found in good health, then moved her out of the tower," said Col Sami Al Naqbi, director general of Sharjah Civil Defence.

Col Al Naqbi presented a certificate of appreciation to Mr Al Saudi for his courageous actions that saved the girl’s life.

"The honour comes within the framework of the civil defence’s keenness to encourage the public to feel societal responsibility and urge them to exert more benevolence and effort in helping others," he said.

Flames spread up and around the 48-storey building in minutes after it was reported about 9pm.

It took several fire crews about three hours to bring the blaze under control, as debris rained down on parked vehicles.

Despite the intensity of the blaze, hundreds of residents escaped quickly, running down fire escapes in the 190-metre tower, one of Sharjah's tallest.

Fire alarms that sounded in more than 300 apartments were credited with saving lives and only seven people were injured.

Sharjah is to replace hazardous cladding on buildings, with work starting this week. Such cladding was cited as the cause of a major blaze at Abbco Tower in the emirate in 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Abbco Tower in Sharjah after the massive fire. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Abbco Tower the morning after the fire. Sharjah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Abbco Tower in Sharjah after the massive fire. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Abbco Tower in Sharjah was gutted in the fire. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The area around Sharjah's Abbco Tower. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The damaged Abbco Tower after a huge blaze on Tuesday night. The building was fitted with cladding that was banned in 2016. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Families watch as flames spread through their building late on Tuesday night. Several surrounding towers were evacuated as a precaution. All photos by Antonie Robertson / The National

The fire quickly spread through the building, gutting apartments and sending debris raining down on vehicles below.

Dozens of firefighters and vehicles were at the scene shortly after the fire was first reported about 8.30pm on Tuesday.

Exhausted crews take a brief break and check their equipment.

The fire in Sharjah lit up the night sky.

Buildings in the area are tightly packed together and several were evacuated amid fears the blaze could spread.

Many residents said they did not have home insurance and fear their lost possessions cannot be replaced.

The blaze continued into the night with crews remaining at the scene on Wednesday morning to dampen the building.

Some tenants managed to grab a handful of possessions before fleeing the tower.

Residents watch on as the fire is contained.

The fire in Sharjah was reported after 8.30pm.

Damage to the rear side of the building was not as severe leading some to hope they can recover their belongings.

A police officer collects testimonies from the residents. EPA

Police officers take residents' details as they try to arrange accommodation.

There were more than 300 apartments inside the 48-storey building and many are shared by tenants and families.

Fadlallahie Hassoun cradles his cat after escaping the building.

The building burned for several hours before it was brought under control.

Charity workers from Emirates Red Crescent hand out water and juice and take down details to arrange accommodation.

Families fear they will not be allowed to return to collect belongings for days if not weeks.

Civil Defence forces extinguish the fire. EPA

People stand on a bridge and watch a fire that erupts in a 48-storey residential tower in Sharjah. AFP

Residents of the burning high-rise building look on as fire-fighting efforts continue. EPA

Maj Gen Saif Al Shamsi, head of Sharjah Police, said investigators were "90 per cent" sure the fire was caused by a cigarette butt or shisha coal left in a corridor on the first floor.

“The fire then spread to one of the apartments on the first floor and quickly spread on to the other ‎floors due to the cladding, which is flammable plates,” ‎Gen Al Shamsi said on Sunday.‎

He said about 100 of the 333 apartments in Abbco Tower had been inspected so far.

Of those, 26 were completely destroyed, 34 suffered smoke and water damage and 40 had damage to their doors.

Gen Al Shamsi said 33 vehicles on the street and inside the building suffered damage from flames and falling debris.

No blame or liability has been attributed to anyone at this stage.