Building collapses in Deira

An eight storey building under construction in Deira, Dubai has collapsed destroying more than ten cars, a police officer said.

Half of the building collapsed while the rest remained standing, the official said. At the time of the accident no work seemed to be taking place on the building which had appeared ready for residents to move in.

The building, on Al Ittihad Road at Galadari Intersection next to Ramada Continental Hotel, collapsed at about 4pm and the officer was not able to confirm whether anybody had been hurt in the building collapse but said no workers were believed to be on-site at the time.

Ishraq Hibib, 17, was at home at Yasmeen Building about 100m from the building when the incident happened.

‘We felt tremors and looked outside and saw something like smoke,’ he said.

‘There are fire trucks and rescue vans and police everywhere. I can see at least four or five cars under the rubble. I can’t see anyone hurt.’

Office workers in the area also reported a similar earthquake feeling that first alerted them that a building had caved in.

‘I’m about 400m away. I just experienced a jerking on the building and thought it was an earthquake,’ said Zainudheen Parissery.

‘Everyone was running outside to check what happened.’

Police, ambulance and rescue teams are still on site and Dubai Municipality engineers have also arrived.

afkarali@khaleejtimes.ae