Concerns over fire safety continue across the world, as 12 were injured in a recent high-rise building fire in UAE, while 38 were killed in a fire at a warehouse construction site in South Korea in late April.
Image from the fire in UAE
The Middle East has witnessed a number of high-rise buildings fires in recent years, and the latest engulfed a 49-storey tower in the city of Sharjah, just outside of Dubai. According to reports, firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control in under three hours, while tenants were evacuated swiftly, during the evening of Tuesday 5th May.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined by authorities, but safety experts speaking to the Guardian have blamed the aluminium composite panel cladding, as the likely reason.
In other international news, a fire at an unfinished warehouse construction site in late April left 38 workers dead and another 10 injured, according to reports.
The incident, which took place just 50 miles from Seoul, is said to have spread “extremely quickly” and made it impossible for those inside to evacuate. The Chief of the Icheon Fire Station believes it may have been oil droplets that started the blaze, but officials were still investigating the cause.
Download the Fire Safety in 2023 eBook, keeping you up to date with the biggest news and prosecution stories from around the industry. Chapters include important updates such as the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and an overview of the new British Standard for the digital management of fire safety information.
Plus, we explore the growing risks of lithium-ion battery fires and hear from experts in disability evacuation and social housing.
