Massive fire breaks out in Dubai industrial zone; 2 suspected to be trapped

Dubai, Sep 22: A massive fire broke out Sunday in an industrial area in Dubai near a shopping centre, Mall of the Emirates.

Thick black smoke was seen rising from an area of the size of a football field adjacent to a branch of the Dubai roads and transport authority RTA, Xinhua reported.

The Mall of the Emirates, located opposite the road of the RTA branch, was not affected.

Dubai police have cordoned off the area, while fire brigade personnel and ambulances rushed to the scene.

There were no immediate details of casualties and the cause of the fire remains unclear.

A Dubai police officer on the scene of the fire said that they suspect that two people are trapped inside.

“The fire is blazing on in the rear of the warehouse, so we are unable to enter as yet,” he added.

The fire started at 11.10am, according to Dubai Police who arrived 10 minutes later.

At 2.10pm, the fire was still blazing in front and rear of the warehouse. More fire trucks and ambulances have arrived at the scene.

A worker at the neighbouring Al Majal Dewatering said there are nearly 140 people who work in the Sana warehouse. People were evacuated as soon as the fire started. Their water and electricity supplies were cut off.

The fire has also resulted in a major traffic jam on Sheikh Zayed Road and from north to south of the city.

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Earlier report

All roads leading into Al Quoz 3 in the vicinity of Modern Bakery have been barricaded, with no cars being allowed in.

Traffic in and around Al Quoz is also affected with jams beginning to form.

The entire right side of the warehouse is gutted with smoke still rising 50 feet high, shrouding the entire area with the acrid smell of burnt debris. Seven Civil Defence vehicles and two ambulances are on the spot right now.

The A warehouse in the Modern Bakery compound in Al Quoz Industrial Area 3 has reportedly caught fire, the a plume of black smoke visible as far as Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.

Civil defence teams are on the scene battling the blaze with several eye witnesses suggesting the fire broke out in the warehouse at approximately 11am.

One civil defence official at the site said the cause of the blaze is not determined yet and declined to comment further.

Meanwhile, a fire attendant said they are unsure which warehouse is ablaze.

However, some eye witnesses suspect it is a furniture factory, while a few others confirm it is Sana garment factory. Police officials at the site has refused to comment.

Several concerned residents took to Twitter, posting images of the fire, which is still raging.