2 Filipinos killed as blast hits KFC, Hardee's Abu Dhabi Airport Road building

  DUBAI - Two Filipinos died in a gas explosion that also destroyed KFC and Hardee's outlets at the ground floor of a high-rise building along Abu Dhabi’s Airport Road on Monday (August 31), the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi confirmed to Expatmedia.net. "It is with deep sadness that the Embassy shares the latest information that two Filipinos died from the unfortunate accident caused by a gas explosion at a restaurant at Sheikh Rashid Bin Seed Road, (also known as Airport Road) in Abu Dhabi," Consul General Marford Angeles told Expatmedia.net. September 3 update: Death toll in Abu Dhabi gas blast climbs to 3 Filipinos killed or injured in Abu Dhabi gas blast: All the updates September 2 update: 208 left homeless by Abu Dhabi gas blast to get free accommodation Philippine Ambassador Hjayceelyn Quintana has reached out to the families of the deceased to express condolences and to give assurance that they will receive necessary assistance. According to Quintana, the Philippine Embassy continues to work with UAE authorities to also obtain details on some injured Filipinos who were brought to the hospital for treatment of minor and moderate injuries so that they can be given appropriate support. Abu Dhabi Media said one of the victims died near the site of the incident, while the other was a passer-by hit by debris. The explosion also injured 26 people, including ten Filipinos, two of whom are children. An Abu Dhabi Police representative confirmed to Expatmedia.net that the suspected gas explosion happened at a restaurant in a building in Rashid Bin Saeed Street, more popularly known as Airport Road. One of the relatives of the victims, M.B. (full name  withheld), reached out to Expatmedia.net to initially ask help to find the Filipina. M.B. was reportedly working as a cashier at one of the fast food chains in the building at the time of the blast. Relatives later confirmed that M.B.'s body was found under the debris. The blast was caused by a fault in the gas installation, police told Expatmedia.net. Abu Dhabi Media said onsite investigations revealed the incident was caused by "misalignment in the gas container fittings following refuelling". Video footage taken by witnesses at the site showed debris littering the streets surrounding the building, with several vehicles damaged by the impact of the blast. "I was getting ready for work when I felt our building shake, like there was an earthquake. And then I heard the explosion," Rose Angel (full name withheld), a Filipina resident of an adjacent building, told Expatmedia.net. She said the incident happened at around 10am. Traffic police were seen diverting traffic from the site of the blast. Police have cordoned off the area and evacuated residents from the affected building and surrounding buildings. Abu Dhabi Police said the Rapid Intervention Teams of the Emergency and Public Safety Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police are currently dealing with the aftermath of the blast. ICA/Expat Media
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