Workers burn to death after falling into aluminium furnace in Dubai

Dubai Police say investigation into the accident is under way

An Emirates Global Aluminium smelting pot at one of its operations. Courtesy Emirates Global Aluminium

Emirates Global Aluminium has launched an investigation after two workers burned to death at its aluminium factory site in Jebel Ali.

The men, whose nationalities and ages have not been disclosed, were standing in front of a furnace when bricks collapsed on top of them, pushing them inside the smelter and trapping them.

EGA, which has factories in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, said emergency procedures were immediately triggered by the incident on Saturday.

The company, which employs more than 8,000 people and has a customer base in more than 60 countries, said the men were working in an industrial furnace which was not operational at the time of the incident.

The company said it was carrying out an investigation to "understand" the factors involved in the deaths.

The EGA statement said: "Emirates Global Aluminium deeply regrets to confirm that an incident took place at its Jebel Ali site ... during a routine maintenance operation in which two men tragically lost their lives.

"EGA’s emergency response procedures were activated, and the relevant authorities in Dubai were notified and have been providing support at Jebel Ali.

"The men were working at an industrial furnace, which was shut down for routine maintenance and was not operational at the time. A team of EGA specialists is investigating the incident to understand the factors involved.

"EGA is offering the men’s families every possible support at this tragic time."

The two men had been with a group of workers who called the police when the accident happened at 6pm on Saturday.

Police arrived with an ambulance and forensic experts, who removed the bodies from the smelter for examination. A police investigation into the cause of the accident is also under way.