Fire engulfed a building in Dubai where Colombians lived: "Our suitcases and all our documents burned."
A fire has ripped through a 67-story residential building in the Marina district , one of Dubai's busiest areas.
Among the victims are Colombian citizens who reported having lost all their belongings , including essential documents such as passports and wallets.
The fire started around 9:30 p.m. local time on Friday on the upper floors of Tiger Tower. The flames quickly spread from the 60th floor , where the incident began, descending and then ascending again, affecting the entire skyscraper. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Mass evacuation and containment efforts According to the Dubai Media Office, around 3,820 people were successfully evacuated from the building's 764 apartments .
The fire was brought under control in approximately six hours by Civil Defense teams, who remained on the scene throughout the night.
Specialized teams successfully evacuated all residents from the 67-storey building, prioritizing their health and safety throughout the operation. Efforts continue to fully contain the fire. pic.twitter.com/7q0O0FU38G
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) June 13, 2025
“ Specialized teams successfully and safely evacuated 3,820 residents […] without any injuries ,” the entity reported in a statement on the social network X.
In addition, authorities confirmed that they are working in coordination with the building's developer to provide temporary accommodation for those affected.
Colombians among the victims Several Colombians lived in the building. Alejandro Quintero, one of the victims, posted a video on his personal Instagram account, describing what happened.
“ Absolutely everything burned. In my case, it was my passport, wallet, and suitcases. We don't know what to do, ” Quintero said.
In the images provided by the resident, the building can be seen engulfed in flames as emergency crews try to contain the situation.
Those affected created a WhatsApp group to organize, request food, and support each other in the current situation .
"We're asking for help. We want to create a community to help everyone," the young man said.
On-site support and follow-up Local authorities have deployed ambulances and medical personnel to the area to provide medical and psychological care to evacuated residents.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Dubai Civil Defense has been contacted for further details on the origin and progress of the fire.
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