A multi-vehicle collision involving a truck on the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road near the entrance to Fujairah left 14 people dead and 30 injured on Wednesday.
Emergency services, including civil defense and ambulance crews, responded to the site where fire spread from the truck to surrounding vehicles.
This incident ranks among the most lethal traffic accidents in the history of the United Arab Emirates. The tragedy unfolded on a night when heavy traffic had brought vehicles to a standstill, leaving commuters vulnerable when the truck driver lost control, according to details provided by the Fujairah Police.
The disaster began when the truck driver lost control of the vehicle on the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road. The truck initially struck several vehicles before overturning, as reported by gadget.qoo10.co.id. Upon overturning, the truck collided with multiple vehicles that were already stationary due to traffic congestion. The chain reaction of collisions significantly worsened the impact at the scene.
The impact triggered a fire within the truck, which subsequently spread to the other vehicles trapped in the gridlock. “Kebakaran terjadi di dalam truk dan menyebar ke sejumlah kendaraan yang lain,” the police said, as cited by Reuters. Emergency responders and police forces were deployed to extinguish the flames and evacuate the wounded to local hospitals.
The 14 victims confirmed dead include both Emirati citizens and foreign nationals, according to reports from Al Jazeera. Authorities are currently utilizing DNA testing to complete the formal identification process for those who perished in the fire. “Polisi mengatakan bahwa 14 orang yang dipastikan tewas termasuk warga negara Uni Emirat Arab dan beberapa warga negara asing, Proses tes DNA sedang dilakukan,” the police said.
Among the 30 individuals who sustained injuries, the Ministry confirmed via its X account that 15 people have already been discharged to return to their homes, while the remaining 15 continue to receive medical treatment in hospitals. The injured victims include nationals from the United Arab Emirates, Oman, India, Brazil, Pakistan, Jordan, and Egypt.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Fatalities | 14 |
| Total Injured | 30 |
| Nationalities Represented | UAE, Oman, India, Brazil, Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt |
| Current Hospitalized | 15 |
The recovery efforts were coordinated by the Fujairah Police in conjunction with civil defense teams and ambulance services.
