LATEST NEWS 
January 23, 2007
High rise construction fire kills four
DUBAI
At least four workers are dead and 67 hurt in the aftermath of a spectacular fire at a high rise under construction.
The fire was reported to have started at about 12:30 p.m. but officials say the first report to authorities was 1:11 p.m. Within 10 minutes first emergency crews arriving at the 35-storey building were calling for back-up.
The developer of the project is Dubai-based Nakheel, and the prime contractor is AJM, a Malaysian Company.
Civil Defense officials estimated that there were approximately 300 workers employed at this site, with an unknown number of others on site, when the fire started.
Some 61 workers were trapped on numerous floors above the 20th floor and four are known dead with at least one falling to his death after trying to climb to safety.
Another man who fell while trying to flee the fire managed to grab a rope as he plunged and was later rescued.
The Dubai Civil Defence’s special team trained in high-rise building fires techniques effected most of the rescues as helicopters from Dubai Police Air Wing dropped teams onto the rooftop. It took about 75 minutes to contain 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.
The Fortune Tower project was in the latter stages of construction and is one of 79 towers in the Jumeirah Lake area with 2.4 million square feet of mixed commercial and residential development.
Most of those affected were trapped in the top four or five storeys when the fire broke out on the 30th floor and spread upwards. About 50 workers were trapped and many were overcome by the thick black smoke. Cause of the fire is under investigation.
DCN NEWS WIRE
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