The deluge cut off a road, uprooted trees, washed away homes and sent vehicles flying
Initial investigations revealed that the maid -- identified as Tegist -- died of an illness on December 11. Three of her friends who live in the 10th-floor apartment, as well as the watchman of the building, were held for questioning as the probe continued. The woman's remains were taken to a forensic laboratory for further examination.
She was reportedly staying in the country illegally and had no residency visa, police said.
The people who live in the apartment told the authorities that they had come to know Tegist only because she was a friend of one of their roommates. They met her in the morning on the day she died.
She told them that she had been working for an Arab family who hadn't paid her salary for three months and even took her jewellery. That morning, she said she felt sick and needed some medicines, they recalled.
"Her friend introduced her to the rest of the group, and all decided to help her. They prepared a bed and some food for her, but she didn't eat anything," Orenge Lue, one of residents of the apartment, told Khaleej Times.
She then lay down in bed and they all thought she was sleeping. They tried waking her up several times to eat but she didn't respond.
"Later, we realised that her hands and legs were already stiff," Lue said. That was when they realised she could have died, so they called the police. When the emergency team arrived, Tegist was confirmed dead.
Lue said Tegist had been ill for a long time but the family she was working for refused to take her to the hospital. She did not have an insurance or an Emirates ID.
The group is now doing what they can to find her family. They also appealed to the Ethiopian consulate to help them in the search and in repatriating Tegist's remains.
"We have collected money to pay for her repatriation and posted her picture in all social media platforms with hopes of reaching anyone from her family," Lue said.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com
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