Popular Dubai eatery destroyed in gas leak explosion

Dubai - Forensic evidence has been lifted off the site to determine the sequence of events that led to the explosion.

A popular Turkish restaurant in Dubai was destroyed after a suspected gas leak caused a massive explosion on Tuesday morning. No casualties were reported as the blast tore through the two-storeyed Bosphorus Restaurant in Umm Suqeim, Jumeirah Beach Road, around 6am.
Wooden partitions, glasses and other fittings at the restaurant were blown out, as walls and ceilings collapsed.
According to the police, the explosion was triggered by a gas leak from the kitchen area.
Major-General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai Police for Criminal Investigation, said the police arrived at the scene in under four minutes after it was reported at 6.08am.
The Dubai Civil Defence managed to contain the blaze by 6.38am.
Maj-Gen Al Mansouri said a citizen informed the police about the gas leak first. The caller said he could smell the gas about 300 metres away from the restaurant. He then heard an explosion, after which the building caught fire.
Forensic evidence has been lifted off the site to determine the sequence of events that led to the explosion.
Residents of the area recalled the terrifying moments after the explosion. Amy, a resident, said the explosion was so massive that her windows shook. Raj K., another resident, said: "I heard the blast. The restaurant went up in flames within minutes."
amira@khaleejtimes.com