Scores of people needed medical treatment after breathing in smoke from a fire that broke out in a residential building in the Al Rashidiya area in Ajman.
Six residents were taken to Sheikh Khalifa Hospital in Ajman, while 18 received treatment at the scene after the blaze, which started in the building’s electricity room before spreading between floors 4, 5 and 6.
Brig Gen Saleh Al Matrushi, director of the general department of Civil Defence in Ajman, said the incident was reported to the operations centre at 10.40pm on Sunday and response teams were dispatched immediately.
Civil Defence evacuated the building, moving residents to a safe area and offering treatment to the injured. The fire was contained before it spread to more apartments.
Brig Gen Al Matrushi urged people to ensure the safety of electric equipment in their homes and to turn off all appliances when not in use.
He also called on residents to have manual fire extinguishers on hand to deal with small fires, reported Al Ittihad, the Arabic language sister paper of The National.
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