Vereinigte Arabische Emirate (VAE) / United Arab Emirates
2010
An
Emirati sustained medium burns while his two sons were suffered minor burns when
firecrackers stored in his house exploded in the Al Dhait area of Ras Al Khaimah
(RAK). 7.9.2010
Source:
"Firecrackers stored in RAK home explode", 9.9.2010, http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2010/September/theuae_September200.xml§ion=theuae&col=
Markooz.
Children celebrating the wedding of their relative threw firework at a crowded
women-only wedding tent, causing a big fire which spread to nearby houses.
Source: "Wedding tent saved from disaster", 15.9.2010, http://www.emirates247.com/wedding-tent-saved-from-disaster-2010-09-15-1.291137
Abu
Dhabi. A five-year-old girl has been left with painful second-degree burns on
her chest and scars for life because the firework she had been playing with
during the Eid holidays exploded unexpectedly at the wrong end. The accident
happened on the second day of Eid.
Source: "Five-year-old girl suffers burns in fireworks accident", 19.9.2010, http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/emergencies/five-year-old-girl-suffers-burns-in-fireworks-accident-1.684043
2008
Dubai.
A massive explosion happened at about 7.15am at a fireworks warehouse in the Al
Quoz Industrial Zone Area on Wednesday, March 26, 2008. The fire, which started
in the warehouse that stored fireworks illegally, soon spread to other
warehouses that stocked a variety of goods. A cluster of warehouses (some
articles mentioned about 80 storage facilities) adjacent to the firecracker
warehouse that exploded were gutted completely and experts said that losses
could be in the range of Dh550 million (around $150 million).
The UAE armed forces, along with teams from
Abu Dhabi Police and Civil Defence personnel from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, and
Al Ain, helped Dubai personnel in fighting the fire. The department of
Environment, Health and Safety at Jebel Ali also joined the efforts.
March
26, police found charred and torn remains of an unidentified
worker at the scene, while another worker, a Filipino identified as Romello
Olaya (29), who was passing by the warehouse suffered severe injuries and was
pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. About 27 others, including three firemen,
were injured.
March 27, the death toll has risen to three as the charred remains of one person were found in one of the warehouses. The body has been handed over to forensic experts to conduct DNA tests to identify the person.
March 28, the death toll rose to eight as the charred remains of five more people were recovered from the scene.
According to witnesses,
firecrackers were going off much after the explosion that triggered the blaze.
Hundreds of children from
schools, nurseries and day-care centres were sent home early. These measures had been taken to avoid exposing the children
to the smoke and ashes.
Emirates Environment Group (EEG), a voluntary, non-government organisation based in Dubai, said the large plume of smoke was very alarming. The toxic emissions will be inhaled by people for days. The city and surrounding habitats will also be coated by residue when the particles settle.
The fire was finally extinguished at 8pm on Wednesday, 13 hours after it
began.
According to a spokesman from the Dubai Civil Defense, the explosion was caused due to improper storage of firecrackers. He added that Dubai law prohibits storing fireworks in industrial areas and housing complexes.
Police have arrested the owner
of the warehouse. "The fire was caused by a big cache of illegal fireworks
and firecrackers stored in the warehouse," said Gen Khamis Mattar Al
Maeina, Director General of the Dubai Police Criminal Investigation Division.
Source:
"Explosion rips through fireworks depot", 26.3.2008, http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23434661-23109,00.html
"Huge fire in Dubai's Al Quoz industrial area", 26.3.2008, http://www.tradearabia.com/news/IND_140758.html
"Thick smoke blankets Dubai after fire erupts at a fireworks warehouse", 26.3.2008, http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/General/10200471.html
"Children
sent early from schools", 26.3.2008, http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2008/March/theuae_March867.xml§ion=theuae
"Al Quoz blaze continues to rage; two dead, three injured", 26.3.2008, http://www.bhatkallys.com/news/news.asp?aid=5834
In photos: 'UAE Fireworks Warehouse Fire', 26.3.2008, http://news.monstersandcritics.com/middleeast/features/article_1396956.php/In_photos_UAE_Fireworks_Warehouse_Fire?page=2
"Thick black smoke sparks health fears", 26.3.2008, http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/General/10200602.html
"Thick blanket of smoke envelops Dubai after Al Quoz fire" (article with pictures from the scene and with comments from readers), 26.3.2008, http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/General/10200462.html
"29-year-old Filipino dies after being hit by flying debris", 26.3.2008, http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/General/10200490.html
"Huge blast sparks wide blaze in Dubai", 27.3.2008, http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=108262&d=27&m=3&y=2008
"Two
dead in Dubai blaze", 27.3.2008, http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&month=March2008&file=World_News200803274317.xml
"Fireworks blaze horror",
27.3.2008, http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=212817&Sn=WORL&IssueID=31007
"Dh550-million fire guts 83 warehouses", 27.3.2008, http://www.xpress4me.com/news/uae/dubai/20006604.html
"Al
Quoz blaze put out, cooling process is on", 28.3.2008, http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2008/March/theuae_March918.xml§ion=theuae&col=
"Dubai
explosion death toll hits 8", 29.3.2008, http://www.arabianbusiness.com/514937-dubai-explosion-death-toll-hits-8