Abu Dhabi gas leak blast kills two
MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) citing updates from the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi said an explosion took place at a building near Airport Road at about 10:00 A.M. today.
According to the statement released a while ago, the explosion took place at about 2:00 P.M. Manila time. Philippine Ambassador Hjayceelyn Quintana said Embassy personnel on site are checking the area. They ae also coordinating with the police. There may be Filipinos working at the affected establishment but company management has not confirmed anything as of this time.
It was learned UAE authorities reported there were two victims who died, one was near the site of the incident while the second was a passerby who was fatally hit by debris. No identities have been released.
Meanwhile, media reports from Abu Dhabi said the blast took place at 10:15 AM local time.
The Abu Dhabi-based The National said there are KFC and Hardee’s restaurants in the area along with other retail outlets on Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Road, also known as Airport Road. The said restaurants were reported to have been shattered. The debris from the blast reached as far as a kilometer away.
“Unfortunately, two victims lost their lives – one near the site of the incident, and a second passer-by who was hit by debris. We extend our heartfelt condolences to their families, God rest their souls,” Abu Dhabi Media Office said.
It has also been reported Abu Dhabi Police were doing investigation after they evacuated all the residents of the affected building.
There were 518,756 Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates as of December 31,2018. However, the Department of Foreign Affairs has already repatriated a number of distressed overseas Filipinos since the COVID-19 pandemic began during the first quarter of 2020. (Melo M. Acuña)
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