Investigations underway after Sharjah building fire claims 5 lives

Investigations are currently underway after a massive fire at a 52-storey residential tower in Sharjah on Sunday left five people dead and 19 more wounded.

In an official statement released on Tuesday, Sharjah Police said a criminal laboratory team is working to identify the cause of the fire, which broke out in an apartment on the top floor, with specialised teams carrying out inspections of the site.

Emergency teams rushed to the site after they were alerted about the incident at 11:31 am on Sunday and carried out evacuation procedures.

The area was cordoned off and the injured rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.

The building housed 1,500 people, the authority added.

Colonel Dr. Ahmed Saeed Al-Naor, Director General of the General Administration for Operations and Security Support, expressed condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery.