Four jumped to death in Sharjah building fire

Four men from African countries died after jumping from a high-rise residential tower in Sharjah’s Al Nahda area while trying to escape a massive fire.

The blaze broke out in a 51-storey building comprising 42 residential floors and nine levels of parking. Despite the swift response by emergency teams, the victims reportedly fell to their deaths while attempting to escape using ropes and scaffolding set up for maintenance work.

Authorities confirmed that 148 residents were safely evacuated. Additionally, six individuals were hospitalised, primarily due to smoke inhalation and minor injuries, while others received on-site care and were subsequently discharged.

An Egyptian resident living on the 21st floor told Gulf News that no fire alarm was heard during the incident. “We saw smoke in the corridor and rushed down the stairs. When we reached the ground, emergency teams were already there and guided us to safety,” he said.

Another resident from the third floor recalled the horror: “We saw an African man lying motionless on the ground. He had jumped from the top of the building and died instantly.”

“There weren’t visible flames — just thick smoke,” another resident added. “Firefighters acted quickly, evacuating people via stairways and ladders.”

Scaffolding and ropes had already been installed on the exterior of the building for ongoing maintenance. One resident reportedly used the ropes to descend and survived. Others tried to follow but lost their grip and fell. One victim landed on the scaffolding, which collapsed under his weight.

The fire is believed to have started on the 42nd floor, which remains sealed off. Investigators are currently on-site examining the cause of the blaze. Authorities have urged all residential buildings to maintain functional fire alarm systems and conduct regular safety checks.

By night, authorities began allowing residents to return to their apartments. However, access to floors above the 30th level will be granted only after safety clearance.

The Sharjah Social Services Department was also on-site, providing immediate assistance such as water, juice, and food to those affected. Authorities have assured that temporary accommodation will be arranged for families unable to return to their homes, should the building management fail to provide it.