Two people died and 120 were injured in a gas explosion in central Abu Dhabi on Monday. Abu Dhabi Police said a gas cylinder had exploded in a restaurant in Khalidiya. The force said two people had died, 56 suffered moderate injuries and another 64 had minor injuries, according to initial figures received on site from Abu Dhabi Civil Defence.
Police said on Twitter that the injured were taken to hospital and that shops and six buildings were damaged. Specialist teams remain at the site, the force stated.
It shared its “sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the deceased”.
“Civil Defence is dealing with a fire resulting from a gas cylinder explosion in a restaurant in the Khalidiya area,” Abu Dhabi Police said in a tweet.
“Initial reports indicate that there were injuries caused by the explosion as well as several shops affected”, police added. The Authorities will offer temporary accommodation for the residents of the affected buildings until they can be completely secured.
No further information on fatalities was disclosed.
Nearby residents heard a bang and felt their windows shake shortly after 1pm. Smoke was seen rising from the area.
Police have cordoned off several roads close to the Shining Towers complex, a local landmark. The blast occurred in a low-rise residential building nearby.
Images showed vehicles in the vicinity had been showered with debris. Police said four residential buildings were evacuated and that some owners had reported damage to their facades.
