On 15 April 2023, a residential building caught fire in the Al Ras neighbourhood of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which led to 16 fatalities and nine wounded. A preliminary investigation by the Dubai Civil Defence Forces showed non-compliance with building safety and security rules as the cause of the fire.[1][2]
| Date | 15 April 2023 |
|---|---|
| Time | 12:41 p.m. local time (GST, UTC +04:00) |
| Location | Al-Ras neighborhood, Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| Deaths | 16 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 9 |
Background
Dubai has experienced numerous fires in high-rise buildings over the course of several years, owing in part to the use of aluminum composite cladding, which has been found to be highly flammable.[3] In 2013, the UAE enacted legislation requiring fire-retardant cladding to be applied during the construction of any buildings reaching a height of 15 meters or higher; however, this new stipulation was not applied to pre-existing structures, or to construction projects that were already underway.[3] A similar incident occurred on 7 November 2022, when a 35-storey apartment complex near the Burj Khalifa ignited.[4] The building was in the process of having its aluminum composite cladding replaced, but the job was incomplete, and the sections retaining the composite material enabled the flames to spread quickly to the upper levels.[4] The residents were reportedly evacuated, and there were no reports of injuries or fatalities.[4][5]
The city's hot desert climate has also been identified as a contributing factor in the frequency of such occurrences.[6] On the day of the Al Ras apartment fire, the highest-recorded temperature was 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit), moderated by strong winds.[6]
Al Ras is the westernmost neighborhood in the district of Deira, a historically significant section of the city of Dubai. The neighborhood is a popular tourist destination,[7] featuring such landmarks as the gold and spice souks,[7][8] the Al Ahmadiya School,[7][9] and the Al Ras Public Library.[10] As of 2018, the population of Al Ras was 7,314, all of whom were migrant workers.[11]
Fire
The fire broke out on the fourth floor of the five-storey building. Fire crews arrived on the scene at 12:41 local time (09:41 GMT). Among the dead were six Sudanese, four Indians, three Pakistanis, one Cameroonian, one Jordanian, and one Egyptian.[12] Fire engines, firemen, and police officers arrived with equipment within minutes and began helping people.[12]
Response
Teams from Dubai Civil Defence responded as well, evacuating residents and treating the injured. The fire is under investigation by the authorities to identify its specific cause, which is thought[by whom?] to have been a violation of building safety and security regulations. Calls for stronger enforcement of building codes and steps to assure compliance have been made in response to the disaster.[citation needed] A Dubai Civil Defence spokesperson sent condolences to the victims' families, and efforts are being made to help them at this difficult time.[13][1]