• Home

Road and fire accidents take economic toll

ABU DHABI — Fire and road mishaps, usually viewed in terms of the loss of precious human lives, have an economic dimension as well which can not be ignored. Property losses estimated at more than Dh100,000 were incurred due to fire accidents that broke out over the week end in several parts of the UAE.

According to the Technical Investigation Section at the Civil Defence General Secretariat, losses calculated at Dh35,000 were incurred due to the fire that broke out on Wednesday in a complex of companies and corporations in Dubai. A blaze that raged in an apartment in a residential building in Al Maragabat area in Dubai on Thursday resulted in gutting of the furniture and parts of the house which entailed an estimated loss of property of around Dh30,000.

A car caught fire at Miraijib area in Al Ain the same day and was partially damaged. A Dh8,000 material loss was the outcome. On Friday, a caravan used as a labourers camp was completed destroyed in a fire that lasted 45 minutes. Civil defence forces put out the blaze within 15 minutes and there were no casualties. Civil defence sources said a Dh 25,000 loss was incurred due to the incident.

A huge fire gutted major portion of a building under construction in Jabel Ali the same day, a mishap civil defence sources said led to losses of Dh 20,000.

Of course the human cost cannot be ignored. A Pakistani national, K.N, was also a victim of the accidents that occurred on the weekend in separate parts of the country. He was killed on the spot when his car collided on Thursday with a heavy vehicle at Al Housin roundabout in the Western Region. Another Pakistani was injured in the accident. Civil defence team carried the injured to Liwa Hospital. Three UAE nationals identified as A.A, M.A and A.A.N were wounded in a traffic accident that occurred on Friday at Al Bateen area in Abu Dhabi involving two cars. Civil defence specified the injuries of the two first victims as minor, while no details were released about the health condition of the third man.

• UAE