Fourteen cars, all on the sixth level of parking, were destroyed in the fire. (Photo by M. Sajjad)

No serious casualties reported, 14 cars destroyed.

A massive fire on Thursday destroyed 26 residential storeys of Al Nasser Tower on King Faisal Road, Sharjah, leaving 250 families homeless.

The fire started at about 2.15pm in an apartment on the first floor of the building comprising 32 floors - 24 residential and six parking. The flames soon spread to the upper levels, reaching the top-most floor of the building.

No serious casualties were reported, according to Civil Defence officials, though 14 cars parked on the sixth level of parking, were destroyed.

Over 40 residents were given first-aid in the five ambulances dispatched after they suffered from smoke inhalation, while moderate cases were rushed to Al Qasimi and Al Kuwaiti hospitals in Sharjah.

Residents of the affected and neighbouring buildings were evacuated by air wing police and early intervention units, while fire-fighters from various stations worked to douse the flames. While the air wing used loud speakers to urge residents to evacuate, police and Civil Defence personnel went from apartment to apartment knocking at doors to evacuate residents.

Some of the residents were injured because of a stampede as the exits were partially blocked due to things stored there.

The building called Continental earlier was sold to a Qatari and the name was changed to Al Nasser Tower. According to residents, the building lacks even the minimum fire protection equipment such as alarms and extinguishers. It lacks proper maintenance and almost all wires are exposed, they said. Two month ago, the tenants had lodged a complaint against the owner for failing to fix the AC during the hot summer months. No action was, however, taken and the Sharjah Municipality had to intervene and fix the cooling system on humanitarian grounds.

All roads leading to and from the building were blocked for several hours, while the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority disconnected the power in the building and those around the area.

Abdullah Al Suwaidi, director-general of the Sharjah Civil Defence, told Khaleej Times that two teams were formed, one for evacuation and the other for fire-fighting. Police were also deployed in all areas to prevent onlookers from crowding and to divert cars to facilitate fire-fighting.

The public were also informed through social media to avoid King Faisal Road and to use alternative roads.

Red Crescent and other charity organisations reached the site to help the residents affected by the fire.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Safwan Abdul Kareem, resident of apartment No 1608, said that his wife and he were at work when he received a call at his office informing him about the fire. "I rushed to the building and tried to enter to collect my important documents, but I was prevented by the police. And now I don't have any belongings. Everything is inside the flat. I don't have any cash with me; we don't know what we will do. Where will we spend the night?" he asked.

Meanwhile, officials from Sharjah Municipality said they will inspect the building to see if it was habitable or not.

Tales of sorrow

A Syrian woman in her late 30s was seen running towards the building and screaming saying her children were locked in the flat. She was stopped by the police. They confirmed that her children had been evacuated and were in the ambulance receiving first-aid for smoke inhalation.

Another Emirati woman was seen screaming that she had locked her maid inside. "If something happens to her, I will be responsible," she was heard saying. The police calmed her down and informed that the maid had been evacuated.

Azza Abdullraheema said all her three children were in school and she was sleeping. Since there were no alarms, she did not know about the fire until she received a call from her friend from the neighbouring building informing her about the fire. "I ran and I fell as I tripped on some of the objects which blocked the emergency exits. "There was a big crowd at the exits and someone even stepped on me."

Fakhari Assif was also sleeping and he woke up in shock when he heard the announcement by the air wing of the police, he said.

Khaleej Times' efforts to contact the real estate company, N.M.A, proved to be in vain. There was no answer from the landline and the mobile of the manager was found to be switched off.

afkarali@khaleejtimes.com