SHARJAH // Residents were forced to flee their homes on Thursday after flames were seen spreading up the outside of their 32-storey tower block.
Plumes of black smoke could be seen pouring from the Abdul Naser building in King Faisal Road, Sharjah, from miles around.
Civil defence, ambulances and police were called to the fire at 1.37pm and rescue workers immediately began to evacuate the building.
No one was badly injured in the blaze but some people were treated for panic attacks and breathing difficulties.
Egyptian Ahmad Sami, who lives on the 19th floor, said he went outside after smelling smoke and saw the flames.
He shouted to his family that they should leave their flat. "I grabbed my daughter and left the apartment with my wife."
Saleh Al Abed was among the tenants who rushed down the stairs to escape the fire. "I told my mother and she took my twin sisters and left the apartment," the 14-year-old said.
Marwa Ahmad was in shock as she waited for civil defence officials to give the all-clear for tenants to return to their homes.
"It was terrible," she said. "There was smoke everywhere."
Eyad Al Teimary, a Palestinian who lives on the 20th floor, said he rushed home after hearing of the fire. "My wife was evacuated from the building."
A spokesman for Sharjah Civil Defence said crews from Saja, Humeriah and Muweileh, with support from Ajman and Dubai Civil Defence and Sharjah Municipality, tackled the fire.
"There were many cases of residents that had shortness of breath. Emergency crews offered assistance to residents."
Nineteen people were treated for breathing difficulties, while 200 families were left homeless and were being cared for by Emirates Red Crescent.
tzriqat@thenational.ae
