A fire that broke out at a residential tower in Sharjah last month was caused by coal used to smoke shisha, it was reported this week.
The fire on March 28 destroyed homes when it spread to other towers as a result of strong winds, and left many families homeless.
According to Gulf News, the fire erupted when coal used in shisha smoking was thrown into a construction waste pile that caught fire.
The newspaper quoted Ghaleb Jaber, general manager of Real Estate Investments Public Corporation (REIPC), as saying: “One of the residents was smoking shisha and threw its coal in a construction waste site where the fire broke out and spread to the adjacent buildings.
“There was construction work being carried out in the last building in the complex where a construction waste pile was left at the time of the incident. A police investigation is ongoing to identify the person.”
Some tenants are renting new apartments while others have been staying in hotel rooms paid for by REIPC. However, a handful of tenants have claimed they are being asked to leave within days, according to the newspaper.
Meanwhile, others have reportedly expressed concern over insurance cover, saying they have yet to receive any communication from the landlord or insurer.
The UAE is set to publish an updated fire safety code in the coming weeks.
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