Residents flee Sharjah tower block blaze
Residents were forced to flee their homes on Thursday after flames were seen spreading up the outside of their 32-storey tower block.Շ
Plumes of black smoke could be seen pouring from the Abdul Naser building in King Faisal Road, Sharjah, from miles around.
Civil defence, ambulances and police were called to the fire at 1.37pm and rescue workers immediately began to evacuate the building.
No one was badly injured in the blaze but some people were treated for panic attacks and breathing difficulties.
A spokesman for Sharjah Civil Defence said crews from Saja, Humeriah and Muweileh, with support from Ajman and Dubai Civil Defence and Sharjah Municipality, tackled the fire.
“There were many cases of residents that had shortness of breath. Emergency crews offered assistance to residents.”
Nineteen people were treated for breathing difficulties, while 200 families were left homeless and were being cared for by Emirates Red Crescent.