Flooded-out JLT residents returning home
Flooded-out residents at Lake Shore Tower in Dubai’s JLT are beginning to return to their apartments this afternoon after one of the building’s elevators was put back into service.
Thousands of householders were forced to evacuate their homes at 2.30am on Saturday when a water main burst on the 32nd floor, leaving a torrent pouring down through the 44-floor tower.
Resident Kamran Mcgee, who lives on the 41st floor described how he had to stay at ground level for hours, separated from his family, as water poured down the stairway like something from “The Titanic’.
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Thousands of householders were forced to evacuate their homes at 2.30am on Saturday when a water main burst on the 32nd floor
Mcgee and hundreds of neighbours feared an electrical short circuit would hit them as they tried to make their way upstairs.
The water supply to the building was cut off and all the elevators were switched off during the emergency evacuation.
Thousands of people, women, children and old folk, some of them with pets, were forced to rush downstairs in the torrent of water as the fire alarm sounded and the emergency services rushed to the scene.
Mcgee said earlier today: “There is one elevator working. We are going to return home now.” At the height of the incident the building was surrounded by five police vehicles, fire appliances and ambulances.
Several families were ‘trapped’ in their homes in the higher levels of the building.
Comments
by omario82
Sunday, May 13 2012, 10:48PM
“I also live in Lake Shore Tower on the 13th Floor. Thankfully there was no damage to the apartment I live in, but it has been a rough few days and quite the workout climbing up and down 13 flights of stairs since the Elevators were not working until this afternoon.
I find it surprising that some people were waiting for the fireman to knock their door before evacuating. What were they waiting for, an invite? The fire alarm went off and people went down the stairs with pets, and children. I have a four month old son, and we had to take him down the stairs just like many other families going down the fire exits.
But I want to take this opportunity to thank the Civil Defense, and emergency services that attended to the incident as they reacted with the utmost professionalism and care. They were quick, efficient, organised and reduced the degree of panic that seemed to be the case with many of the residents with their help.
This is not the first time this building has faced a water problem, although the previous incidents were nothing close to this magnitude. However, I think it is unfortunate that the management have waited so long to react and take action to fix it properly. Over a thousand people live in this building, and those responsible for this incident should be held accountable.”
by suzyQ72
Sunday, May 13 2012, 5:01PM
“We were not asked to evacuate, no fireman knocked our door.... I doubt thousands were asked to evacuate, as I understood only those floors where water came through the ceilings. Looking at the building at present, only floor 20-25 were more heavily effected as there is no electricity in the hallways there.... other floors seem only water damage on the floor, which could have been reduced if residents would have been less lame and take a mop to hand themselves instead of waiting for staff to clean it all up, not rocket science people!”