Two workers charred to death inside furnace in Dubai

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Two workers charred to death inside furnace in Dubai

Dubai - The incident took place during a routine maintenance operation.

by

Amira Agarib

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Published: Tue 14 Aug 2018, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Tue 14 Aug 2018, 10:19 PM

Two workers burned to death as they got trapped inside a large furnace at an aluminium factory in Jebel Ali. The furnace was under maintenance and not operational at the time.
After the police responded to the distress call made at 5:17pm on Monday, workers at the Emirates International Aluminum Company told them that the victims were working when a wall at the factory collapsed, due to which they fell inside the furnace.
Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed, head of the criminal and mechanical engineering section, Dubai Police criminal investigation department, referred to the incident as an "industrial accident". Forensic investigation revealed a wall at the factory collapsed on the two workers, after which they fell more than five metres into the furnace. Temperatures inside reached over 1,000°C due to heat from nearby furnaces and the workers were charred to death.
The incident took place during a routine maintenance operation. The bodies have been transferred to the forensic department for an autopsy.
Officials from the company and the police teamed up to retrieve the bodies, but the process took a long time due to the extreme heat.
Major Dr Mohammed Al Qassim from the criminal and mechanical engineering department said investigations are on to determine how the wall collapsed.
The Emirates International Aluminum Company expressed "regret and sorrow" at the incident. A spokesperson said the company had followed all emergency procedures after the incident.
amira@khaleejtimes.com


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