Abu Dhabi building blaze: authorities offer temporary accommodation to tenants

Tenants were safely removed from 30-storey building in Al Zahiyah area but 19 people were injured

Nineteen people were injured in a fire in a 30-storey building in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Photo: Abu Dhabi Police

Police said they suffered minor to moderate injuries and were receiving hospital treatment. Photo: Abu Dhabi Police

The building in Al Zahiyah was evacuated. The National

Abu Dhabi Police and Abu Dhabi Civil Defence teams raced to the scene. The National

The cause of the blaze is under investigation. The National

People watch as the blaze takes hold. The National

Free accommodation has been offered to residents whose building in Al Zahiyah in central Abu Dhabi caught fire on Friday afternoon.

Nineteen people were taken to hospital after suffering “minor to moderate injuries”.

Abu Dhabi Police said the building had been evacuated to “ensure the safety of tenants”.

“The Emirates Red Crescent Authority, in co-operation with the Abu Dhabi Police and the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority, has provided temporary housing for the residents of the building until the building is completely secured,” Abu Dhabi Police wrote on Twitter.

The force said its officers and crews from Abu Dhabi Civil Defence had succeeded in controlling the fire and that the cooling down of the building in under way.

Thick plumes of smoke were visible over the city skyline above high-rise buildings in video footage shared on social media.

“The incident has resulted in minor to moderate injuries to 19 individuals who were immediately transferred to hospitals to receive medical care,” said Abu Dhabi Police on Twitter.

“Further updates will be shared as they become available.”

The force said investigations were under way to determine the cause of the blaze.