A fire in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has killed 16 and injured nine others. The fire broke out on the fourth floor of a residential building in the old town of Dubai, as the responsible civil defense announced today. The exact cause of the fire was initially unclear.
According to initial investigations, the owner of the building is said to have failed to comply with safety regulations. The civil defense did not say which provisions he is said to have violated. The fire broke out yesterday. Emergency services brought him under control after a few hours.
Several Indian and Pakistani nationals were among the dead, local media reports. A 48-year-old man from India was still trying to save people from the building and died himself.
Significantly more foreign migrant workers than locals live in the UAE. The trade and tourism metropolis of Dubai is one of seven emirates in the country. There are many markets and restaurants in the densely populated area where the fire broke out.
