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• Thu Apr 17 2025

A Kenyan man was among five people killed in a fire that broke out in a high-rise building in the Al Nahda area of Sharjah

Before his death, the man identified only as B.K. had awakened his roommates and instructed them on how to avoid suffocation during the fire

Unfortunately, while civil defense teams rescued his roommates, B.K. was missing and was later found dead after attempting to escape the fire using a maintenance cable

Faith Chandianya, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and Current Affairs in Kenya

New details have emerged about a Kenyan national who was among five people killed in the Al Nahda tower fire in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday, April 13.

Al Nahda tower on fire (r) and stock photo of fire fighters (photo on the right for illustration). Photo: Khaleej Times/Natnan Srisuwan.

Source: Getty Images

The 52-storey high-rise, one of the tallest in the emirate and home to over 1,500 residents of diverse nationalities, is widely known for housing many Kenyans working in the UAE.

How a Kenyan man died in Al Nahda tower fire

According to Khaleej Times, one of the media outlets in the UAE, the Kenyan man identified using initials BK, reportedly tried to escape the blaze by climbing down maintenance cables from the high-rise building.

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B.K's close friend and roommate, Aby, said he likely lost his balance and fell to his death

?Maybe he thought it was the only way out.He probably saw the cables outside the window and believed he could climb down ? but he must have slipped and fallen," Aby said

Aby, who survived the fire, recalled B.K.?s heroic actions in the final moments before the tragedy. He said B.K. was the first to notice the thick black smoke creeping into their apartment in the 52-storey tower.

?It was a weekend, and most of us were still asleep when smoke began entering our unit. All I could hear was B.K. screaming for us to wake up and get out," he said

He added that panic quickly spread as the smoke thickened, but B.K. remained calm, advising everyone to cover their faces to avoid suffocation.

While Aby and others were later rescued by civil defense teams, B.K was nowhere to be found.

?We only learned what happened when we were brought to safety. There was chaos outside ? police, firefighters, people everywhere. I heard someone had jumped, and later, another flatmate confirmed it was B.K. We were all in shock. He was the one who made sure we got out in time.?

Fighting back tears, Aby described B.K as a cheerful and humorous man. B.K worked at a mall and had only recently moved into the building to save on rent.

?I still can?t believe he?s gone,? Aby said.

How did the other four people die in the Al Nahda tower fire?

Four of the victims reportedly fell while attempting to flee the flames, while another is believed to have died of cardiac arrest, possibly due to shock.

Firefighter extinguishing fire with hose(photo for illustration). Photo: Sarote Pruksachat.

Source: Getty Images

One of the two unidentified victims?thought to be Kenyan and known by a single name?was burned beyond recognition, complicating the identification process.

Authorities have not yet established the cause of the blaze. Sharjah Police said investigations are ongoing. According to police, the fire started on one of the upper floors, prompting a swift response and the evacuation of hundreds of residents.

Source: TUKO.co.ke