UAE plagued by 3rd high-rise fire since New Year's Eve

A residential high rise in Dubai Marina went up in flames on Wednesday afternoon, marking the third massive building fired in the UAE since Dec. 31.

A residential high-rise in Dubai Marina went up in flames on Wednesday afternoon, marking the third massive building fired in the United Arab Emirates since Dec. 31.

Reports say that the fire first broke out on the 60th floor of the Sulafa Tower sometime between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., spreading quickly due to strong winds and damaging at least eight floors of the building.

The 75-story building is one of Dubai's 25 tallest buildings and is also one of the 130 tallest in the world.

Fortunately, the fire was brought under control within two hours and there were no casualties, according to  Major General Rashid Thani Al Matroushi, director-general of Dubai Civil Defense.

The fire is still being investigated and it remains unclear how many flats have been affected.

"Some flats might be affected by fire, smoke, or water. This is to be determined later," a civil defense spokesperson told Gulf News . He also said residents would not be allowed to return to their flats until firefighters determine it is safe.

This marks the third large-scale building fire in the UAE since New Year's Eve.

On Dec. 31, The Address hotel in Downtown Dubai caught fire, burning into the morning as the Civil Defense battled the flames. The Ajman One development in Ajman caught fire on March 28 earlier this year.

Additionally, The Torch apartment building in Dubai caught fire in 2015, severely damaging 100 flats and in 2012, a blaze engulfed Tamweel Tower in Jumeirah Lakes Towers.

Following the previous fires, experts suggested flammable cladding on the exteriors of these buildings may have allowed the fires to spread much more rapidly.

As a result of the The Address hotel fire, national attention was focused on the use of highly combustible plastic filled aluminum composite panels on the facades of buildings throughout the emirates. The Dubai Civil Defense announced that it was working on a new fire code after the New Year's Eve fire.

According to The National, the new fire code is set to be released this year.

Here are the 15 athletes on Iraq's 2016 Paralympic squad

Iraq's National Paralympic Committee announced that fifteen athletes, and a powerlifting referee, will take part in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Many Iraqi Paralympians have acquired their disabilities as a result of the ongoing conflict in the nation, where athletes and para-athletes alike are struggling to practice sports.

Nonetheless, Iraq has produced several successful para-athletes who have brought home a gold, three silver and four bronze Paralympic medals, compared to the country's single bronze Olympic medal.

Ahmed Khalaf earned the nation’s first Paralympic medal at Barcelona 1992, a bronze for the discus throw in the limb impairment category. Since then, Iraq has found Paralympic success in athletics and powerlifting.

The Iraqi Paralympic Committee has announced that it is sending fifteen athletes to compete among the estimated 4,000 athletes expected at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, which will kick off on Sep. 7.

Six Iraqi Paralympians are headed to the athletics event:

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  1. Kovan Hasan Abdulraheem, Javelin Throw (Short Stature F41)
  2. Abbas Hatem Jabr, 400 meter race (Coordination Impairment T38)
  3. Zahraa Najah, Discus Throw (No movement in the lower limbs F55)
  4. Woldan Nizar Hussein, Javelin Throw (Short Stature F41)
  5. Garrah Nassar Tnaiash, Shot Put (Short Stature F40)
  6. Ahmad Ghani Naas, Javelin Throw (Short Stature F40)
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While Rasool Mohsin and Kassem Al-Tameemi will be powerlifting in Rio.

Mohsin. Source: Paralympic.org
Mohsin. Source: Paralympic.org

With Ammar Hadi, Haidar Ali Nasser and Zainalabdin Ghilan Hasan competing in wheelchair fencing.

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Source: Facebook/MediaIraqNpc

Jawad Joudah will take part in swimming and Garrah Khraybat in blind judo.

Source: Youtube.
Source: Youtube.

While Jawad Kathem Ali and Zaman Hussein will pull out their bows for archery.

Additionally, Iraqi referee Mezher Ghanem has been selected to officiate at his third consecutive Paralympic weightlifting tournament.

The Iraqi NPC has high hopes  for its 2016 delegation and expects better results than the two silvers and one bronze won at the London 2012 Paralympics. Still, it has complained about limited resources, having not received the annual funds it was promised.