New Delhi: At least 14 people were killed and 30 injured in a multi-vehicle collision that triggered a fire in the UAE’s Fujairah emirate late on Wednesday. Indian nationals were among those killed, prompting the Indian consulate in Dubai to contact bereaved families and coordinate assistance with local authorities.
The accident occurred shortly before midnight on Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road, near Fujairah’s entrance. According to Fujairah police, a truck driver lost control, struck another vehicle, overturned and collided with several vehicles that had slowed or stopped because of traffic congestion.
The truck caught fire, with flames spreading to other damaged vehicles. The UAE interior ministry said the collision involved 18 cars and five trucks, bringing the total to 23 vehicles. Emergency teams extinguished the fire, rescued victims and transported the injured to hospitals.
Of the 30 injured, 15 had been discharged by Thursday, while the remaining 15 continued receiving treatment. The injured included nationals of the UAE, Oman, India, Brazil, Pakistan, Jordan and Egypt. Authorities confirmed that Emiratis were among the dead, while DNA testing was being used to identify other victims.
Indian consulate steps in to assist families
In a statement posted on X, the consulate general of India in Dubai said it was “deeply saddened by the tragic road accident in Fujairah” and confirmed Indian fatalities.
The mission said it had contacted bereaved families and was coordinating with UAE authorities to provide assistance. It added that further details were being ascertained, without specifying the number of Indian nationals killed.
Three Kerala family members die in another collision
Meanwhile, three members of a Kerala family died in another road accident in Fujairah on Wednesday night.
The victims were identified as 21-year-old twins Mohammed Asmil and Misna Jubin and their three-year-old nephew, Muhammed Faiz. Four other family members were injured.
According to Khaleej Times, their vehicle collided with a truck around 10.45pm while returning from Sharjah. The newspaper reported that this was a separate accident from the 23-vehicle pile-up, although some Indian reports linked the deaths to the larger collision. An official reconciliation of the two casualty accounts was not available.
Kerala chief minister, VD Satheesan, expressed grief over the deaths of the three victims, who belonged to Vengara in Malappuram district.
In an X post, he offered his “heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and their loved ones”. He directed Norka Roots, Kerala’s overseas welfare agency, to coordinate assistance with local authorities.
Khaleej Times reported that relatives and community volunteers were arranging the burial of the three victims in Fujairah after Friday prayers. Confirmation that the funerals had taken place was not available at the time of reporting.
Meanwhile, Fujairah police said legal and technical investigations into the collision were continuing. Urging motorists to observe speed limits and maintain safe distances, particularly in congested traffic, the police said, “Preserving lives is a shared responsibility.” Authorities also cautioned against spreading rumours and urged the public to rely on official sources for verified information.