A truck driver lost control on a highway in Fujairah on Thursday, triggering a multi-vehicle crash that killed 14 people and left 30 others injured.
The incident occurred on Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Road at the entrance to the emirate, according to the UAE Ministry of Interior.
The collision involved 18 vehicles and five trucks, causing a pileup in slow-moving traffic. The ministry reported that the truck involved in the initial collision overturned and caught fire, which then spread to several other vehicles nearby.
“Preliminary information indicates that 14 people have lost their lives,” the Ministry of Interior said in a post on X. Emergency and specialized teams remain at the scene to provide medical care and clear the wreckage, the ministry noted.
Among the victims were three members of an Indian family from the state of Kerala. “The deceased, Muhammed Asmil, his twin sister Misna Jubin and Muhammed Fayis, were natives of Vengara in Malappuram. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and their loved ones during this time of unimaginable grief,” Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said, as reported by ThePrint.
“The accident happened when the family was returning to Fujairah from Sharjah,” a local social worker B.K. told the Khaleej Times, noting the family had been long-time residents of Fujairah. Four other family members involved in the same vehicle were hospitalized with injuries.
While the Ministry of Interior confirmed the total death toll of 14, the Khaleej Times said that authorities had not explicitly clarified if the Indian family perished in the same specific pileup or a related incident at the scene.
The Indian Consulate in Dubai has reached out to the bereaved families and is coordinating with local authorities to provide assistance. NORKA ROOTS, a government agency in Kerala, has also been instructed to coordinate support services for the affected relatives, according to ThePrint.
Fujairah police and specialized teams are investigating the circumstances surrounding the driver’s loss of control. The Ministry of Interior has urged the public to rely only on official channels for updates as the investigation continues.
What caused the accident?
According to the UAE Ministry of Interior, the crash began when a truck driver lost control of his vehicle, collided with another car, and overturned. The truck then caught fire, which spread to multiple vehicles trapped in slow-moving traffic.
How many people were involved?
The Ministry of Interior confirmed that 14 people were killed and 30 others were injured in the pileup, which involved 18 cars and five trucks.
Is the identity of all victims known?
Authorities have not released a full list of the 14 deceased. While the Chief Minister of Kerala confirmed the deaths of three Indian nationals, reports from the Khaleej Times indicate that officials are still working to ascertain all details regarding the victims and the specific sequence of the crash.
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