Flooded Dubai Construction Site Photographs

Summary:
Photographs show a construction site in Dubai being inundated by water from an adjacent marina (Full commentary below).



Status:
True

Example:(Submitted, July 2007)


Commentary:
This compelling sequence of photographs shows the sudden and rapid flooding of a large construction site. The images are genuine and record an accident that occurred at the site of the Infinity Tower project in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in February 2007. Waters from the adjacent Dubai Marina inundated the site after a holding wall gave way.

A February 8th article in the Gulf News notes:

Nearly 100 workers at the site of the 'tallest building with a twist' had a lucky escape yesterday as a wall holding back the Dubai Marina waters breached and flooded the foundation site.

Excavation work on the 80-floor Infinity Tower was nearing completion when there was a sharp and loud sound, said a worker.

"We then saw sand pouring down the sides," he said.

The workers were ordered to evacuate immediately, said the foreman.

The photographs have circulated around the world via email and have also been posted to a number of blogs and online forums.

It is unclear how long the project will be delayed because of the mishap but its status is currently classified as "on hold". More photographs taken after the accident can be viewed on the Dubai News Online website.

References:
Infinity Tower
Dubai Marina
Gulf News: Lucky escape for 100 workers
Dubai Marina update 27/April/2007

Last updated: 12th July 2007
First published: 12th July 2007

Write-up by Brett M. Christensen

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