At least 14 people were killed and 30 others injured after a truck driver lost control of his vehicle and triggered a chain-reaction collision involving 18 vehicles and five trucks in Fujairah, the United Arab Emirates, according to preliminary reports from the UAE Interior Ministry. The ministry said on Thursday that the accident occurred shortly before midnight, around 20:00 GMT, at the entrance to the emirate. Officials said the truck collided with another truck, both veered off the road, and then struck several stationary vehicles caught in slow-moving traffic; the first truck caught fire and flames spread to other vehicles.
Key Takeaways: The Interior Ministry reported at least 14 dead and 30 injured in a crash involving 18 vehicles and five trucks at Fujairah’s entrance. The first truck caught fire and flames engulfed several other vehicles, prompting emergency and specialized teams to respond. Police said the dead included Emirati nationals and several foreigners, with DNA testing under way, while 15 injured people had been discharged and 15 remained hospitalized.
The accident highlights road-safety risks in the UAE, where high-speed inter-emirate highways and heavy commercial traffic create hazards, especially late at night. Fujairah, on the Gulf of Oman, is linked to other emirates by mountain roads and freight corridors used by trucks serving ports and industrial zones. The Interior Ministry’s early account suggests a combination of loss of control, slow traffic, and fire, factors that can turn a single collision into a mass-casualty incident. Authorities have not yet announced a final casualty toll or identified all victims; preliminary reports can change as forensic and hospital data are updated.
In a post on X, the Interior Ministry said emergency and specialized teams were continuing to deal with the aftermath. It said 15 people were discharged from hospital after receiving medical care, while 15 others remained in hospital. Police said the 14 confirmed dead included Emirati nationals and several foreigners, and that DNA tests were being carried out. The injured included nationals from the UAE, Oman, India, Brazil, Pakistan, Jordan and Egypt, the ministry added.
The ministry and police are expected to release further details after DNA identification and hospital updates, while traffic investigators examine the sequence of the collision and the fire. The case may renew attention to truck safety, night-time driving, and emergency response on busy roads near Fujairah. For now, officials have not announced any additional fatalities beyond the 14 confirmed deaths, and the priority remains treatment for the injured and support for families of the victims.
Source: www.aljazeera.com