Workers die in Dubai tower fire

[DoYouEverWonder]

18 January 2007



At least two workers have died and dozens were injured when fire broke out in a high-rise building under construction in Dubai.

Workers were seen on upper floors waving towels and hanging on to scaffolding as black smoke billowed.

About 40 people were taken to hospital, officials said, some seriously injured. The flames have been put out.

Officials are to launch an enquiry into the cause of the fire at the building in a development at the Dubai marina.

About 300 workers were on the site when the fire broke out in the 35-storey Jumeirah Lake Towers at around 1230 (0730 GMT).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6274981.stm

[xultar]

1. Dubai is doing some extreme engineering - Hydropolis Underwater Hotel, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

I have extreme concerns about how they will handle safety for foreign workers in these conditions building these extreme properties...

http://www.designbuild-network.com/projects/Hydropolis/

[Coventina]

4. More money than taste

is how my husband put it after a visit there (for work).

More money than brains too, it seems.

[Ignacio Upton]

6. And that money doesn't even go to the workers

In Dubai it's illegal to form a union or go on strike.

[Coventina]

9. Oh of course not.

It's a capitalist's dream over there, from what I hear.

[Posteritatis]

14. They recently legalized (and are actively encouraging) unions, actually. (nt)

[IDemo]

11. Including this massive coastline project

and others like it under construction:

Palm Jumeirah, "The Eighth Wonder"

[Twillig]

2. look at all tthose cranes.

It's like they're putting up Manhattan in a years time.

[Truthiness Inspector]

3. Yup

And the whole city looks just like that snapshot. What is also incredible is that virtually all of those office spaces, condos, etc are already purchased. I'm wondering how the roads and freeways will be able to sustain the ever increasing traffic, which is already abyssmal.

[BayCityProgressive]

5. In the long run it is smart

rather than relying on oil they will be a service oriented economy and have a huge vacation and retirement economy.

[Truthiness Inspector]

8. Agreed.

The Emirate of Dubai is very smart to cater to tourism, business, and so on. I just hope they have plans in the works for some sort of metro system (although I'm not sure about the viability of that). Otherwise, my concern is that the back-breaking traffic will take a toll on Dubai's desirability as a destination.

[Coventina]

10. Desirability as a destination?

Let's see, nothing to see, except capitalism gone wild.

Miserable weather, unbearably hot AND humid.

A little tiny country right next door to that human rights mecca known as Saudi Arabia.

Right across the gulf from Iran, another fabulous human rights mecca.

Yep, VERY desirable destination.


On edit: AND biggest ecological footprint per capita in the world. Something they can REALLY be proud of.

:sarcasm:

[Ignacio Upton]

7. It's Manhattan meets Vegas

n/t.

[Javaman]

15. but without the class, history or unique architecture.

just reminds me of an empty suit. Remind you of anyone?

[XemaSab]

12. That was my thought exactly

It looks like every building in the photo is under construction. :P

[clyrc]

13. I live right next door to Dubai, in the neighboring Emirate of Sharjah

The growth in Dubai is insane, the workers are treated badly, and most of the negative things people have to say about Dubai I more or less agree with... but I still love it here. Because I live here, I am friends with people from all over the world. My daughters are growing up knowing that not all Arabs, and Muslims, are terrorists, because they play with them and go to school with them every day.

Here and there amongst the sometimes ludicrous glitz, you can find bits of culture and history. I have learned so much from my Pakistani and Indian friends, and they have taken me to parts of Dubai I otherwise wouldn't have seen. We have been on vacation for the past few weeks, and we've done some off roading to see waterfalls, pools, and other neat UAE stuff.

Dubai, and the UAE, needs to change to be more worker friendly, among other things. I hate to hear about those workers dying. I hope nothing like that happens again.