Khaleej Times

DUBAI, Jul 7: Three cars were destroyed in a car parking lot near Satwa bus terminal after a fire erupted in one of them yesterday. The fire was reportedly caused by short circuit in one of the cars, police and Civil Defence officials said. No one was injured in the incident.

The fire, according to Civil Defence officials, started around 3.00pm in a BMW car (F 54823) and quickly spread to the cars parked nearby. “The driver of the BMW car, after detecting some fault in the AC, parked it in the parking lot with the engine still on and went to a nearby workshop to fetch a mechanic. While, he was away, the car caught fire,” said a police official.

“According to our initial assessment, the fire erupted because of short circuit. But we are investigating the matter,” the police officer on the spot added.

A Civil Defence official said, “When we arrived the fire had already engulfed other cars in the parking lot. It took us an hour to extinguish the flames.”

Eye-witnesses reported having heard a loud noise when the fire broke out. “I was passing by when the fire broke out accompanied by a loud noise,” said Jaffer Ahmed.

Jacob John, who lives nearby, said, “I was having lunch when I heard a big noise. When I looked out of the window, I saw people running around in panic and the cars were on fire.”