Firefighters brought under control a fire that broke out at a residential tower in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday night, May 5. According to the government-run Sharjah Media Office, seven people are treated for minor injuries from the fire in the tower in Sharjah's Al Nahda area and taken to hospital for treatment.
The fire began late at night at the 48-story Abbco Tower in Sharjah, a residential building located in the country's third-largest city. The building, which towers more than 620 feet, is said to be one of the tallest buildings in Sharjah.
The fire broke out around 9 pm, videos on social media purportedly of the fire showed burning debris falling from a tower engulfed in flames, which local media said was the 48-storey Abbco Tower.
Residents of the tower were evacuated, Sharjah media office said. It did not say whether the cause of the fire was known which resulted in a massive response from firefighters in Sharjah.
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At least eight patrol cars had rushed to the site to support the firefighting mission. Police cordoned off the area and diverted traffic to safer lanes, a leading Sharjah Police official said as reported by Khaleej Times. Officers also used drones to ensure that no-one was trapped inside the building.
They have also started working with competent authorities to provide shelter for the families of affected buildings. More than 250 families were evacuated from the 48-storey building, which consists of 36 residential flats and 20 levels of car parking, constructed in 2006.
