SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 1 (UPI) — A fire in a residential high-rise in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates injured at least 19 people due to smoke inhalation on Thursday.
The 24-floor building was evacuated after a fire broke out at about 2 p.m. The fire was controlled and an investigation into the cause was launched.
About 40 apartments out of 250 were affected by fire and smoke, the Sharjah Civil Defense Directorate said. Burning debris fell from the building, causing damage to six parked cars.
“All the injured have been rushed to Kuwaiti and al-Qasimi Hospitals,” said Maj. Abdullah al-Suwaidi, director general of Sharjah civil defense.
An apartment resident told the Khaleej Times that smoke woke her up.
“I opened my door to see what is going on and found residents making a dash towards the staircase and at the same time screaming that the building is on fire,” said the resident, who did not want to be named. “The elevators came to a standstill and there was this rush to get out on the street as soon as possible. I was all alone at home when the fire broke out.”
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