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Residents of the burning high-rise building look on as fire-fighting efforts continue. EPA
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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
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Abbco Tower in Sharjah after the massive fire. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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Abbco Tower the morning after the fire. Sharjah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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Abbco Tower in Sharjah after the massive fire. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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Abbco Tower in Sharjah was gutted in the fire. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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The area around Sharjah's Abbco Tower. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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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
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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
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The fire quickly spread through the building, gutting apartments and sending debris raining down on vehicles below.
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Dozens of firefighters and vehicles were at the scene shortly after the fire was first reported about 8.30pm on Tuesday.
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Exhausted crews take a brief break and check their equipment.
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The fire in Sharjah lit up the night sky.
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Buildings in the area are tightly packed together and several were evacuated amid fears the blaze could spread.
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Many residents said they did not have home insurance and fear their lost possessions cannot be replaced.
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The blaze continued into the night with crews remaining at the scene on Wednesday morning to dampen the building.
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Some tenants managed to grab a handful of possessions before fleeing the tower.
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Residents watch on as the fire is contained.
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The fire in Sharjah was reported after 8.30pm.
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Damage to the rear side of the building was not as severe leading some to hope they can recover their belongings.
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A police officer collects testimonies from the residents. EPA
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Police officers take residents' details as they try to arrange accommodation.
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There were more than 300 apartments inside the 48-storey building and many are shared by tenants and families.
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Fadlallahie Hassoun cradles his cat after escaping the building.
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The building burned for several hours before it was brought under control.
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Charity workers from Emirates Red Crescent hand out water and juice and take down details to arrange accommodation.
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Families fear they will not be allowed to return to collect belongings for days if not weeks.
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Civil Defence forces extinguish the fire. EPA
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People stand on a bridge and watch a fire that erupts in a 48-storey residential tower in Sharjah. AFP
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Residents of the burning high-rise building look on as fire-fighting efforts continue. EPA
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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
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Abbco Tower in Sharjah after the massive fire. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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Abbco Tower the morning after the fire. Sharjah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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Abbco Tower in Sharjah after the massive fire. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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Abbco Tower in Sharjah was gutted in the fire. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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The area around Sharjah's Abbco Tower. Chris Whiteoak / The National
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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
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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
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The fire quickly spread through the building, gutting apartments and sending debris raining down on vehicles below.
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Dozens of firefighters and vehicles were at the scene shortly after the fire was first reported about 8.30pm on Tuesday.
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Exhausted crews take a brief break and check their equipment.
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The fire in Sharjah lit up the night sky.
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Buildings in the area are tightly packed together and several were evacuated amid fears the blaze could spread.
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Many residents said they did not have home insurance and fear their lost possessions cannot be replaced.
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The blaze continued into the night with crews remaining at the scene on Wednesday morning to dampen the building.
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Some tenants managed to grab a handful of possessions before fleeing the tower.
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Residents watch on as the fire is contained.
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The fire in Sharjah was reported after 8.30pm.
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Damage to the rear side of the building was not as severe leading some to hope they can recover their belongings.
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A police officer collects testimonies from the residents. EPA
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Police officers take residents' details as they try to arrange accommodation.
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There were more than 300 apartments inside the 48-storey building and many are shared by tenants and families.
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Fadlallahie Hassoun cradles his cat after escaping the building.
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The building burned for several hours before it was brought under control.
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Charity workers from Emirates Red Crescent hand out water and juice and take down details to arrange accommodation.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6PHGV2VSB5DU3SBGQZVF636UQU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b8d18549f2907f671153ba00bbd2f369118c6536a038e7b2bcd52bb69e6f4250&width=400&height=225)
Families fear they will not be allowed to return to collect belongings for days if not weeks.
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Civil Defence forces extinguish the fire. EPA
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People stand on a bridge and watch a fire that erupts in a 48-storey residential tower in Sharjah. AFP
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Residents of the burning high-rise building look on as fire-fighting efforts continue. EPA
Sharjah fire: Aluminium cladding blamed as authorities to probe towers across emirate
Abbco Tower was built using a type of aluminium composite panel cladding, which fire-hit Torch, Zen and Adriatic towers also featured
Patrick Ryan
06 May, 2020
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