High-rise 48-storey tower catches fire in UAE
A high-rise tower caught fire on Tuesday in the United Arab Emirates.
The side of the 48-floor Abbco Tower in Sharjah, which neighbours Dubai, saw flames shoot up them.
Firefighters and police surrounded the tower, as did curious onlookers.
Seven people were treated for minor injuries from the fire in the tower in Sharjah's Al Nahda area and taken to hospital for treatment.
Authorities offered no immediate cause for the blaze.
Massive fire reported at Sharjah. Residents of the nearby buildings were immediately evacuated for their safety.The quick response by Sharjah Civil Defence teams averted a major disaster, authorities said. #sharjah#sharjahfire pic.twitter.com/0H51nLBCa0
— Naseel Voici (@NaseelVoici) May 5, 2020
The UAE, including skyscraper-studded Dubai, has suffered a spate of fires in its high-rises in recent years.
The reason for the blazes, building and safety experts say, is the material used for the buildings' sidings, called aluminum composite panel cladding.
While some types of cladding can be made with fire-resistant material, experts say those that have caught fire in the UAE and elsewhere were not designed to meet stricter safety standards and often were put onto buildings without any breaks to slow or halt a possible blaze.
