14 Dead in Massive 23-Vehicle Pile-Up in Fujairah
A catastrophic 23-vehicle collision in Fujairah has claimed 14 lives, including four Indian nationals, leaving 30 others injured.
A catastrophic multi-vehicle collision on Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Road (E66) has left 14 people dead and 30 others injured. The massive pile-up, which involved 23 vehicles, occurred late Wednesday night near the Fujairah Court House, turning a stretch of highway into a scene of devastation and fire.
Heartbreaking Loss for Kerala Family
Among the deceased are four members of the Siddique family, hailing from Vengara in the Malappuram district of Kerala. The victims have been identified as 21-year-old twins, Mohamed Asmil Siddique and Misna Jubin Siddique, along with their three-year-old nephew, Muhammed Faiz.
The family, who had been long-term residents of Fujairah with the patriarch, Siddique, living in the emirate since the late 1970s, operated the Eva cafeteria. The twins had only recently celebrated their 21st birthday on November 9. Asmil was reportedly driving the family’s Toyota Fortuner when the accident occurred.
While the tragedy has devastated the family, several members survived the crash with injuries, including the twins' mother, Arifa, their sister, Farzana—who is the mother of Muhammed Faiz—and two other children.
The twins' funeral prayers were held at Fujairah’s Old Etisalat Mosque on Friday, and they were laid to rest in the UAE.
A 23-Vehicle Inferno
The accident was triggered between 10:45 pm and 11:00 pm on Wednesday. According to reports, the chain reaction began when a vehicle struck a stationary truck. This was immediately followed by a container-laden truck overturning and crashing into traffic, sparking a massive pile-up involving 18 cars and five trucks.
The intensity of the resulting fire was so severe that authorities had to rely on DNA testing to identify the victims. Fujairah Police and Civil Defence teams worked extensively to manage the scene and recover the casualties from the wreckage.
Casualties and Injuries
The UAE Ministry of Interior confirmed that the 14 fatalities include 10 Emiratis and four Indians. The collision also left 30 people injured, representing a diverse group of nationalities:
- 7 Indians
- 8 Emiratis
- 6 Omanis
- 3 Egyptians
- 2 Jordanians
- 2 Pakistanis
- 2 Brazilians
Fifteen of the injured have since been discharged, while the remaining individuals continue to receive medical care.
Investigation Underway
The Federal Public Prosecution has launched a formal investigation into the incident. Preliminary findings suggest that a failure to maintain a safe distance may have been a contributing factor to the massive pile-up. Technical inspections and forensic tests are currently being conducted to determine full liability for the crash.
The Indian Consulate General in Dubai is coordinating with local authorities to provide support to the affected families. Additionally, Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has expressed his condolences and instructed NORKA ROOTS to assist the bereaved family in Malappuram.