By Janice Ponce de Leon, Staff Reporter www.gulfnews.com
Dubai: A fire that broke out in a building under construction near the Burj Khalifa Metro station early Saturday morning disrupted Dubai Metro services for three hours, affecting hundreds of commuters.
Fire broke out on the sixth floor of Al Hikma Tower along Shaikh Zayed Road on Saturday morning. A spokesperson from the Dubai Civil Defence said the operations control room was alerted at 5.54am. The fire was put out by 8.15am by two stations from Al Manara and Satwa.
At least one worker fell unconscious due to smoke inhalation during the blaze. He was treated on site, the spokesperson told Gulf News.
Traffic on the service road near the building was diverted during the operation. Services of the Dubai Metro Red Line from Jafiliya, Trade Centre, Emirates Towers, Financial Centre, Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, and Business Bay Metro stations were temporarily suspended for safety precautions for three hoursleaving hundreds of commuters stranded.
Jebel Ali-bound Metro users were advised to leave the train at the Jafiliya Metro station at around 7.30am. They were asked to board the feeder buses waiting for them at the parking lot near Exit 3.
“All the passengers were advised to get down at the Jafiliya station. By that time, the station was already packed. It was very crowded — the type of crowd you’d see when you’re going to a major concert,” Jojo Dass, a media practitioner who was stranded at the station, told Gulf News. More info
