Dubai Torch Tower residents get access to flats

Dubai - Residents who need to access the building will be accompanied by the security to their respective units

Tenants of Dubai Marina's Torch Tower, which went ablaze on Friday midnight, are granted access to acquire their belongings, giving priorities to certain resident needs.
An internal memo sent from Kingfield Owner Association Management Services, the building management company of Torch Tower, said that residents in need for medications, pregnant women and families, or residents who require passports or documents in travel in the next 24-48 hours will be given priority to enter the building.
"[On Friday], the authorities provided access to residents to gather valuable and urgent items from apartments up to the 70th floor. [On Saturday], access continues for apartments up to the 80th floor (as informed by Dubai Civil Defense)," the memo read.
Residents were asked to register with the Dubai Police directly on arrival at the site to gain access to your property. Residents who need to access the building will be accompanied by the security to their respective units.
A mobile police station has been provided on site to register lost and found cases and answer people's concerns.
To avoid delayed waiting times, the company recommended that only residents who require urgent access visit the tower earlier in the day, and that remaining residents visit the tower later in the day or during the evening.
While some residents were booked into hotels around Dubai Marina on Friday, the management company provided shuttles to residents to the GHAYA Grand Hotel near Sportcity.
Some residents were also housed in Media One and Radisson Blu hotels on Friday evening. Statements by Dubai Police said residents were sheltered in three nearby hotels shortly after the fire.
Services restored
In the internal memo, the management company announced that domestic water supply, fire fighting line and chillers on lower circuits have been restored.
"Door condition checks were done for apartments on all floors," the memo said, noting that several operational reports have also been prepared by teams on site.
The company added that further updates will be expected from the authorities regarding access to The Torch.
"Based on this information residents will be informed and/or advised of further accommodation requirements," the memo said.
Cause of fire remains unknown
Brigadier Khalil Al Mansouri, head of CID at Dubai Police, told Khaleej Times that expert teams are on site to determine the cause of the fire.
He added that residents are expected to be allowed to return to their apartments permanently by Saturday evening. "When experts are done with examining the site, residents should be allowed to return as soon as possible, probably by Saturday evening," said Al Mansouri.
He added that Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, personally followed up the incident and ensured that tenants are sheltered in the "best hotels."
Damages and repairs will be covered by the tower's insurance company, he said.
- sherouk@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Dubai