According to local media, a fire in a residential building in Dubai killed 16 people and injured nine others.
The fire started around midday Saturday on the fourth level of the building in the Al-Ras neighborhood of the city’s old quarter.
According to preliminary investigations, the incident was caused by “a lack of compliance with building safety and security requirements,” according to a statement reported by UAE media.
Dubai, one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates, has a population of around 3.3 million, of whom almost 90 percent are foreigners.
The nationality of the victims has not been revealed.
The city has experienced spectacular fires in the past, causing extensive damage but few casualties.
In 2017, the authorities announced the adoption of stricter building regulations to minimise the risk of fire, attributed mainly to flammable materials used in the exterior cladding of buildings.
