Tall & Urban News

A preliminary investigation into the Al Nahda Tower fire from 13 April, in Sharjah, found that overheating of electrical transformer components due to overloading sparked the blaze, which spread rapidly in the overcrowded space. The fire originated on one of the top floors of the 52-story residential building, inhabited by more than 1,500 people. 

Brigadier Sami Al Naqbi of the Sharjah Civil Defence stressed proper high-rise evacuation procedures and announced a committee will review building licenses and pursue legal action if negligence is confirmed. Engineer Khalifa Bin Hadda Al Suwaidi reported that, thanks to recent facade upgrades with fire-resistant materials, building damage was minimal and relatively contained. Once authorities arrived on the scene, the fire was extinguished quickly and residents were allowed to return to the building if they had been evacuated during the occurrence. Officials estimate losses would have exceeded Dhs12 million if the flammable aluminum facade had not been replaced, crediting the preventive measures ordered by Sharjah’s Ruler for averting a larger disaster. The fire event sadly claimed five lives and injured 19 others. The casualties were attributed to one person who had a cardiac arrest and four others who reportedly fell to their deaths while attempting to escape the flames.

Read more at Gulf Today.