Sharjah woman falls to death from balcony

A mother-of-three was found dead at the base of the apartment she lived in.

SHARJAH // A 51-year-old mother of three has fallen to her death from an apartment block near Buhaira Corniche.

The body of the Iraqi woman was found at the base of the 17-storey tower on Friday. Police were alerted just after 7.30pm.

A team of CID officers and forensics experts were sent to the scene, and the woman's body was taken to a forensic laboratory where it was still being held yesterday while investigations into the incident continue.

A spokesman for Sharjah Police said they were questioning the family of the victim to determine the cause of the fall.

The woman and her family had lived in the building for more than a year.

The emirate has recorded a significant number of falls from high rises among both children and adults.

While investigations have often proved adult falls to be linked to suicide bids, the lack of safety on balconies in many buildings has been blamed for causing most deaths.

The problem has prompted authorities in the emirate to begin devising policies to increase safety in high-rise buildings.

Sharjah Municipality has issued new regulations for windows and balconies. Windows in all new buildings must be at least 1.2 metres off the ground and older properties must have devices to prevent windows from being opened wider than 10 centimetres.