WEB DESK: A fire severely damaged a 67-storey building in Dubai Marina on Friday, leading to the evacuation of nearly 4,000 residents.
Many tenants reported that fire alarms did not activate, and they only became aware of the blaze through the smell of smoke or phone calls from friends.
Thick smoke filled stairwells, forcing some residents to use elevators to escape, despite safety protocols.
One resident recounted, “We smelled something burning around 9:45 pm on the 24th floor. We checked our apartment and saw firefighters outside. The stairs were too smoky, so we used the elevator, which thankfully worked. My wife felt sick from the smoke, and we waited outside for 45 minutes before moving to a hotel.
Firefighters responded quickly, but the incident raised concerns about building safety and emergency preparedness. Many residents spent the night outdoors or in temporary accommodations, with some expressing frustration over delayed alerts and safety measures.
