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19 March 2024

It’s all black and burnt-out inside, say JLT Tamweel tower residents

Published
By Majorie van Leijen

After a long day in front of the burnt Tamweel Tower in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, some residents returned to their blackened apartments to pick up what was left after the Saturday night fire.

"Our apartment is completely black inside," tell Jim and Jane Bischop, a couple who lived on the 12th floor on the building's back side where the fire did the most damage.

That was clear from the couple's appearance as they  walked out of the building covered in soot. They  picked up some clothes that were relatively clean. "The rest is black. Even the interior of the cupboard was covered in soot," they said.

Others were luckier. "There was water on the floor but that was all. My apartment is completely intact," tells Youssef, who lives on the same floor but on the front side of the building.

The residents sharing the same floor were called in by police officers who accompanied residents up the stairs to collect what they can take from the apartments.

"One room was gone, but the rest of the apartment is still OK," says anotherr 12the floor resident. "But my neighbour's house suffered much more damage. Her windows are completely shattered."

Since Monday morning, residents have been allowed to enter the building. As the day comes to an end, more residents were able to return with a little of their belongings. But what is next is still unknown.

"We will return to Bonnington Hotel now, where we have got a room. Then we will wait to be further informed. There is not much we can do at this point," say the Bischops.

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