Fire at Dubai Construction Site

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (ots/PRNewswire) -

Dubai's emergency 997 line received a report of the fire at the
Fortune Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai's Marina Distict (JAVAZ)
at 1311 hours on Thursday, 18 January, 2007. The closest fire
station, Al-Quwoz, about 12 kilometers from the site, sent one medium
intervention vehicle, one firefighting vehicle, one water supply
vehicle, and a services vehicle to the building. Despite significant
traffic congestion, the fire-fighting vehicles arrived by 1320 hours.
Once the first unit arrived at the building, Civil Defense officials
assessed the situation and called in three more firefighting and
rescue units. Two of the units worked to rescue workers, while the
third fought the fire. Civil Defense officials on the scene reported
that the fire was not so serious, but they said it was producing
significant smoke. The exact cause of the fire is still under
investigation.

The developer of the project is Dubai-based Nakheel, and the prime
contractor is AJM, a Malaysian Company.

Civil Defense officials estimated that there are approximately 300
workers employed at this site, with an unknown number of others on
site, including various subcontractors. The building under
construction is 35 floors high. 61 workers were trapped on numerous
floors above the 20th floor and required assistance to evacuate the
site. Four people have died to date as a result of the fire.
Twenty-four sustained mild injuries, while 30 others suffered
moderate injuries, mostly from smoke inhalation. Those receiving mild
to moderate injuries were treated at a triage center, set up by the
Dubai government, and released. One worker jumped from one of the
burning floors, apparently, out of fright, however he grabbed onto a
rope before plunging to the ground. Firefighters were able to rescue
him, and counselors on hand were able to calm him. Those with serious
injuries remain under care at Rashid Hospital.

According to Civil Defense reports, some evacuation procedures
were undertaken by the contractor until firefighters arrived. Civil
Defense officials then assumed control, guiding uninjured workers to
the correct exits and assisting those who were injured in their
evacuation. Civil Defense officials determined that it would not be
safe to use helicopters to rescue workers on the roof of the building
because the roof support scaffolding may have been weakened by the
fire, and they were concerned that the backwash from the propellers
would spread the fire more quickly, or put workers at greater risk of
injury.

Major Rashid bin Massam al Bulflaseh of the Dubai Civil Defense
said, "Our deepest sympathies and prayers are with the workers, their
families and others affected by this tragedy."

"We've seen reports on the BBC of faulty machinery. The cause of
the fire is under investigation and it's too early to speculate. We
will release the cause as soon as it has been determined," said Major
Rashid.

"Dubai Civil Defense would like to thank the caller who reported
this fire. We rely on the public to provide as many details as
possible so that we can respond quickly and appropriately to such
emergencies," he concluded.

This statement is distributed by Levick Strategic Communications
on behalf of The Executive Office, Dubai.

ots Originaltext: The Executive Office, Dubai
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
US: Elan Fabbri of Levick Strategic Communications, +1-202-549-3790,
elan.fabbri@levick.com; or Dubai: Mona al-Marri of JIWIN,
+971-50-64-44-170, mona.almarri@jiwin.ae; or London: Andrew Pharoah
of Hill & Knowlton, +44-799-077-3384,
Andrew.Pharoah@hillandknowlton.com, all for The Executive Office,
Dubai