Two killed, several hurt in Abu Dhabi restaurant blast, police say gas fault likely

Mangalore Today News Network

Dubai, August 31, 2020: Two killed and several people were injured on Monday in an explosion that was likely caused by gas lines in a restaurant in the United Arab Emirates’ capital Abu Dhabi, the police said in a statement.

Emergency response teams evacuated residents of the building and cordoned off the area, the Abu Dhabi Police said.

According to an update posted by the Abu Dhabi Media office on social media, two people lost their lives – one near the site of the incident, and a second passer-by who was hit by debris.

Abu Dhabi-owned The National newspaper, quoting a Dubai Civil Defence spokesperson, said the blast had caused a blaze that damaged the ground floor of the building. The fire was controlled within 33 minutes, it added.

In Abu Dhabi, the blast hit KFC and Hardees restaurants on the city’s Rashid bin Saeed Street, the National reported, adding that other retail outlets were also damaged.

Abu Dhabi police said the explosion caused several minor and moderate injuries, and residents of the building and surrounding areas were evacuated.