Sixteen people have been reportedly killed and nine injured in a huge fire that broke out in a five-storey residential building in the densely populated area of Deira Dubai on Saturday afternoon.
The fire broke out in an apartment building off Al Khaleej Street in Al Ras, where the old Deira market is located.
Dubai police authorities say an investigation into the cause of the fire was under way.
According to a preliminary report, there were no proper arrangements for fire protection and safety routes in the building.
The first crews were on the scene at 12.41pm, around six minutes after the first emergency call was received, reported The National.
The fire on the fourth floor “resulted in the death of 16 people and injuries to nine others”, the newspaper quoted a Dubai Civil Defence statement as reporting.
“Preliminary investigations showed that lack of compliance with building security and safety requirements caused the fire. Relevant authorities are conducting a comprehensive investigation to provide a detailed a report on the causes of the accident.”
Dubai, one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates, has a population of around 3.3 million, of whom almost 90% are foreigners.
The nationality of the victims has not been revealed.
The city has experienced spectacular fires in the past, causing extensive damage but few casualties.
In 2017, the authorities announced the adoption of stricter building regulations to minimize the risk of fire, attributed mainly to flammable materials used in the exterior cladding of buildings
