A tragic blaze engulfed the fourth floor of a residential building in Dubai's Al Ras neighborhood, leading to the death of 16 individuals and leaving nine others injured. A spokesperson for Dubai Civil Defence confirmed that the fire erupted on Saturday afternoon.

Upon receiving the fire alert at 12:35 pm, the Dubai Civil Defence Operations Room promptly dispatched a team to the scene. Arriving within six minutes, they initiated evacuation and firefighting efforts.

Additional support was provided by crews from the Port Saeed and Hamriyah fire stations. The fire was successfully contained by 2:42 pm, followed by the commencement of cooling procedures.

The spokesperson extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, highlighting that emergency medical assistance was administered to the injured while firefighters battled the flames.

Initial findings indicated that the fire resulted from non-compliance with building safety and security regulations. The spokesperson noted that a thorough investigation is underway by relevant authorities to produce a detailed report on the incident's cause.

Witnesses reported seeing flames erupting from the building, with videos on social media capturing black smoke and fire bursting from an apartment window. First responders and multiple fire engines arrived swiftly at the scene.

A nearby shop employee recounted hearing "a loud bang" before noticing the fire. Although they attempted to enter the building to help, the thick smoke hindered their efforts. The rapid response from firemen, police officers, and fire engines enabled many lives to be saved.

Social worker Naseer Vadanappilly, who was present at the mortuary, informed Khaleej Times that some bodies had been identified by family members. He added that at least three injured individuals were in stable condition at the hospital.