Sri Lankan confirmed dead in Abu Dhabi gas leak explosion

  ABU DHABI – A Sri Lankan national died from injuries in a gas explosion at a restaurant in Abu Dhabi’s Airport Road on Monday, bringing the death toll to 3, the Sri Lankan Embassy confirmed on Thursday (September 3). According to the Sri Lankan Embassy, the victim died at the hospital. Another Sri Lankan victim is receiving treatment in the intensive care unit, officials said. ALSO READ: All details on Filipinos killed, injured in Abu Dhabi gas blast "The Sri Lanka Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Foreign Ministry are in contact with the UAE law enforcement and hospital authorities to provide the necessary assistance," the Sri Lankan embassy said. An Abu Dhabi Police representative confirmed to Expatmedia.net that the suspected gas explosion happened at a restaurant in the building along Rashid Bin Saeed Street, more popularly known as Airport Road. 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".

Two Filipinos killed in Abu Dhabi gas blast

On Tuesday, the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi confirmed to Expatmedia.net that two Filipinos were killed in the blast that also destroyed KFC and Hardee’s outlets. The victims have been identified as Clark Gasis, a 38-year-old father of two living in the capital, and Merriner Bartoces, a cashier at KFC. Bartoces’ relative had reached to Expatmedia.net to initially ask help to find her. The Filipina was reportedly working at the time of the blast. Her body was later found under the debris. ALSO READ: 208 left homeless by Abu Dhabi gas blast Philippine Ambassador Hjayceelyn Quintana has reached out to the families of the victims 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 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. Ten Filipinos, including two children, were among 26 people injured in the explosion. 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.  Watch the footage here:

208 left homeless by Abu Dhabi gas blast to get assistance

Meanwhile, accommodation assistance will be given to 208 people who were left homeless after a gas blast destroyed the ground floor of a building along Abu Dhabi Airport, according to Emirates Red Crescent. The organization said its volunteers have transferred residents to hotels in the city and will be covering their accommodation expenses under a directive by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, the Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region, who is also its chairman. ICA/Expat Media  
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