Dubai - The firemen and Civil Defence teams earned praise all around, with a resident telling Khaleej Times how quickly they worked to rescue the pet animals in the building.
Published: Thu 21 Jul 2016, 6:00 PM
Last updated: Fri 22 Jul 2016, 3:32 PM
Life for tenants of Sulafa slowly started returning to normalcy by 3pm, Thursday, as service elevators started functioning and residents on the lower floors started returning to their apartments.
The lobby of the tower had taken on the look of a waiting room on Thursday morning, however, less than 18 hours after the building fire was doused. Dozens of residents waited to be allowed back into their apartments to collect valuables and passports and to assess damage. Several were seen carrying trolleys out of the building, having decided to spend the next day or so either at friends' or relatives or at hotels.
Firemen, great job!
The firemen and Civil Defence teams earned praise all around, with a resident telling Khaleej Times how quickly they worked to rescue the pet animals in the building. The eye witness says there were "a lot of birds - at least 17 different types, and some dogs and cats". They were rescued in cages and brought down the stairs. Several firemen repeatedly climbed up and down the 75-storey building more than a couple of times, to make sure all people and pets were safe.
Residents also told Khaleej Times that the owner of the entire building, an Emirati, had been very helpful and "down to earth" and was addressing the residents' woes.
Elevators remained inaccessible on Wednesday night, although some residents as high up as the 50th floor reportedly made trips to their apartments to just assess the damage. Lebanese national Rashid Haider, an employee of Revlon who's lived in Sulafa Tower for a year in a on the 52nd floor said: "I need my passport, my clothes, my phone." Haider said he was at the building till 3am, and then checked into Yassat Gloria Hotel & Apartments.
Generosity of hotels
The Westin hotel opened up its ballroom and was handing out refreshments to anyone affected. Tamani Marina Hotel & Apartments, too, showed well-appreciated generosity of spirit.
Simran Singh on the 59th floor of Sulafa had checked into the Tamani Marina Hotel & Apartments. Her husband Manjeet, who saw a parrot being rescued from the building Wednesday evening, said Blue Bay (real estate company through which they rented their flat) was very helpful and had accommodated them in a room in Tamani, along with several other residents. Some were even in the ballroom of The Westin.
Walid Alawa, General Manager of Tamani said: "All the staff was here till 1.30am getting rooms organised. We wanted to help. We had approximately 250 people (no pets) in 75 rooms, in one beds, two beds, three beds and also four beds." Alawa said, "The building owner and the management came to us and we agreed to help and gave discounted rates," he said. "We distributed water and juices in the lobby for everyone and invited people during the fire to come and stay in the lobby in the AC. We even offered our help to the fire fighting people as hey were doing also a great job. They said we don't need any help".
nivriti@khaleejtimes.com
Residents of Sulafa tower waiting outisde and in the lobby to get access to their homes after the building caught fire on Wednesday at Dubai Marina.
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