An apartment block fire in Dubai claims 16 lives and injures 9.

Authorities reported that at least 16 people were killed and an additional nine were injured when a fire engulfed an apartment block in an older section of Dubai

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The fire on Saturday in Dubai's historic Deira district's Al Murar neighbourhood destroyed an apartment that is thought to have been shared by several people

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a common practise for the workers who drive the country's economy in this city-state better known for its tall skyscrapers.

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However, the cramped spaces, which are frequently divided by improvised partitions made of plywood, plasterboard

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plasterboard or shower curtains, present a significant risk in the event of a fire.

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The number of fatalities was revealed in a statement released by Dubai Civil Defence by the city-state's media office. 

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The Associated Press' questions were not answered by the authorities.

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