Labourers' savings destroyed by blaze

RAS AL KHAIMAH // Many labourers lost their savings in a fire that destroyed 32 cabins at a labour camp on Airport Road on Saturday. The cause is believed to be a short circuit at the main breaker and is the third fire in five weeks that has destroyed workers' accommodation. There are normally six workers to a cabin. In May, four cabins were razed at a downtown construction site after a short circuit started a fire that lasted nearly an hour. Three weeks later six cabins were destroyed by fire in Shimal.To date, no injuries have been reported.

Civil Defence said it would begin a clampdown on safety at labour camps in response to Saturday's fire. "Now we are making inspections in all areas and we will go to the camps directly," said Mohammad al Zaabi, the new director of Civil Defence in RAK. Inspections would be unannounced and punishments severe, Mr al Zaabi warned. Violators risk having their companies shut and will not be issued with visas.

azacharias@thenational.ae