Indian nationals were among 14 people killed and 30 others injured after a truck lost control and collided with several vehicles in the United Arab Emirates' Fujairah emirate, triggering a massive fire, authorities said on Thursday.
The accident occurred shortly before midnight on Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road, near the entrance to Fujairah, when a truck struck another vehicle, overturned and crashed into several vehicles caught in slow-moving traffic.
According to Fujairah Police, the collision involved 18 cars and five trucks. The impact caused a fire that spread to several vehicles, resulting in heavy casualties.
The Indian Consulate in Dubai confirmed that Indian nationals were among those killed and said it was coordinating with local authorities to assist the affected families.
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The Consulate General of India in Dubai expressed grief over the deaths and assured assistance to the families of Indian victims.
"Deeply saddened by the tragic road accident in Fujairah that claimed lives of several people, including Indian nationals. The Consulate has reached out to the bereaved families and is closely working with local authorities to provide all possible assistance and support," the mission said in a statement.
The exact number of Indian nationals killed in the accident has not yet been officially disclosed.
Reports from Kerala identified three members of a family from Malappuram among those who died in the accident.
The deceased were identified as 21-year-old twins Muhammed Asmil and Misna Jubin, and Misna's three-year-old son, Muhammed Fayis.
The family had reportedly been travelling in a car when the accident occurred near the Fujairah Court House.
Other family members were also injured in the collision.
๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ค ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฅ๐-๐ฎ๐ฉ
Fujairah Police said the accident began when the driver of a truck lost control of the vehicle and collided with another car.
The truck subsequently overturned and struck several vehicles that had slowed or stopped because of traffic congestion.
A fire broke out following the impact and spread to other vehicles involved in the collision.
Emergency response teams, including police personnel, ambulance crews and civil defence units, rushed to the scene after receiving information about the accident.
Rescue personnel extinguished the flames, provided first aid to the injured and transported victims to nearby hospitals.
Authorities also secured the accident site and implemented traffic-control measures to facilitate rescue operations.
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Of the 30 people injured in the accident, 15 had been discharged from hospital by Thursday, while the remaining 15 continued to receive medical treatment.
Officials said the injured included nationals of the UAE, India, Oman, Brazil, Pakistan, Jordan and Egypt.
The deceased included Emirati nationals, while authorities were still working to establish the identities of some victims.
DNA testing was being conducted to identify those whose identities could not immediately be confirmed.
The authorities have not released a complete list of the deceased or details of the medical conditions of those still hospitalised.
๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ก ๐ข๐ง๐ฏ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
The UAE Ministry of Interior confirmed that an investigation was underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Fujairah Police were examining the sequence of events that led to the truck losing control and the subsequent chain collision.
The Ministry of Interior expressed condolences to the families of those killed and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Authorities also urged the public to refrain from circulating rumours or unverified information about the accident, particularly concerning casualty figures and the nationalities of the victims.
The ministry said official updates would be released as verified information became available.
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The accident is among the deadliest road crashes reported in the UAE in recent years, highlighting the devastating consequences of multi-vehicle collisions involving heavy commercial vehicles.
Fujairah Police urged motorists to observe speed limits, maintain adequate distances between vehicles and comply with traffic regulations.
The authorities said the investigation would continue as emergency teams completed their response and officials worked to identify the remaining victims.
Meanwhile, the Indian diplomatic mission said it remained in contact with local authorities and the affected families to facilitate assistance and support.
The final number of Indian fatalities and the full circumstances of the crash remain subject to official confirmation.