4 Asians killed in fire in labour accommodation in Abu Dhabi

Four Asian workers were killed in a major fire which broke out Thursday at a warehouse in Mussaffah which included a labour accommodation, Abu Dhabi Civil Defecne told Gulf News. Another worker who was ill due to smoke inhalation was admitted to a hospital, said Colonel Mohammad Al Nuaimi, director general of the Civil Defense in Abu Dhabi. The incident occurred at 5:53am on Thursday morning and five beds were totally burned, he said. “The four Asians were suffocated to death at the scene. Another Asian was rushed to the hospital for treatment,” he added. Al Nuaimi warned about improper conversion of warehouses into accommodation quarters which result into poor electrical wiring system and non compliance with fire safety standards. The workers in the accommodation told Gulf News that more than 200 workers are living in the ‘converted accommodation’. More than a dozen companies have taken the space for their workers on rent from the owner of the accommodation, a worker said. As soon as the fire broke out, most of the workers woke up and ran away from the accommodation, he said. They said many of them have lost their belongings in the fire.