A tragic fire broke out in a residential building in the Al-Ras neighborhood of Dubai on Saturday, April 15, 2023, resulting in the death of 16 people, including a Cameroonian woman and six Sudanese nationals.
According to officials, the fire started on the fourth floor of the building and also left nine others injured.
Preliminary investigations conducted by the Dubai Civil Defence Force have revealed that the fire was caused by a lack of compliance with building safety and security requirements.
The authorities are currently conducting a comprehensive investigation to provide a detailed report on the exact causes of the accident.
Naseer Vadanappally, a social worker, expressed the heartbreak of the process as all 16 victims have been identified, including six Sudanese nationals, three Pakistani cousins, four Indians, one Cameroonian national, one Jordanian, and one Egyptian expat.
The Cameroonian woman has been identified only as Nicky, who worked as a Chef at a popular restaurant. The Indian couple has been identified as Jeshi Kandamangalath, a school teacher, and Rijesh Kalangadan, who worked in a travel agency close to their place of residence. The identities of the other victims have also been confirmed.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, and authorities are urging strict adherence to building safety and security requirements to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.
