A fire broke out in a building in Dubai on Saturday, killing 16 people and injuring nine.
Photo credit: Anas Thacharpadikkal/Gulf News
It is understood that Dubai Civil Defense attributed the fire to a building that did not meet safety requirements.
At around 4pm on Sunday, residents were waiting for permission from authorities to return to their apartments to retrieve their valuables.
"Most of us are single and spend the night at friends or colleagues' houses late at night. Everyone still wears the same clothes and everything is in the apartment," Riyas Kaikambakam said.
> Save lives but miss flights
Kaikambakkam, who runs a mobile phone shop on the ground floor of the building, was scheduled to fly back to the Indian state of Kerala on Sunday afternoon. "I have booked a 12:50 noon flight and am looking forward to spending Eid with my family."
Kaikanbakam was working at the store when the fire broke out on Saturday.When he looked up and saw huge flames, he walked out of the store and called his roommates and neighbors.
Eight men from Kerala lived in a two-bedroom apartment just four apartments away from the fire.There were four people in the home at the time of the fire.
SOURCE Gulf News
Kaikambakam housemates Mohammed Unais, Mohammed Ebnu Wafid and Jamsheer MP recalled feeling nervous when the building caught fire that day.
"I was sleeping and my other roommate went out to work and that's when he saw the smoke and we saw the fire from the balcony," Unais said.
Soon after, they received a fire alarm call from Kaikambakam.
>Thanks to the savior
"If we try to use the stairs or stay in our rooms like some of our neighbors are doing, it can also be life-threatening," Wafid said.
Finally, Dubai Civil Defense used cranes and ladders to rescue them safely.
"Without the help of Dubai Civil Defense, we would not be here today, thank you," Unais said.
> Mourning a neighbor
Survivors were left with heavy hearts as hundreds of residents gathered outside the building, awaiting instructions to return.
Suhail Kopa said: "Hopefully there is no damage to our apartment, everyone is saddened by the loss of the neighbors who greeted us every day. It breaks my heart to think of losing 16 neighbors. I am helping to recover Neighbor's remains." Deceased. "
