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Blast damages buildings, cars in Abu Dhabi

A powerful explosion in an eight-storeyed building caused damage to more than 20 neighbouring buildings and 45 cars in the Mussafah area in Abu Dhabi on Sunday morning.

The explosion was caused by leak in the central gas pipe system and the fire gutted the first floor, mezzanine floor and a number of stores in the building. However, no major casualties were reported, but a man and a woman who were slightly hurt were rushed to Al Mafraq Hospital. The residents of the building were evacuated by the Abu Dhabi Police and Civil Defence.

According to Colonel Shaikh Mohammed bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Director of the Peripheral Areas Police, the accident took place at 3.30am on Sunday.

“After receiving information about a deafening sound of explosion was and a fire the Civil Defence and Abu Dhabi Police personnel rushed to the place and started putting out the fire,” he said, adding that civil defence firefighters contained the blaze.

“Two persons, a man and a woman were slightly injured and were rushed to Al Mafraq Hospital after being given the first aid by the personnel of police ambulance,” he said. Colonel Mohammed Al Nuaimi, acting Director of the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence, said the firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to the adjacent buildings and the vehicles parked under the structure.

The Abu Dhabi Police and the UAE Red Crescent Authority have coordinated to shelter the occupants of the damaged building and those in the nearby buildings, he said. Quoting a preliminary investigative report, Colonel Nuaimi said leaking in the central gas pipe in the building caused the explosion in the room where the gas distribution system was located. He, however said investigations are on to identify the cause of the explosion.

He stressed the importance of taking all preventive measures and safety in residential buildings, which should be maintained from time to time, specifically the central gas system. The gas system must be checked once in every three months through licensed gas filling companies, he added.