Explosion rips through Dubai apartment building, two critically injured

DUBAI: An explosion ripped through a fifth-floor apartment located in the city's Al Khail Gate community on Wednesday morning, leaving two critically injured.

Dubai Civil Defence officials confirmed the explosion was gas cylinder explosion, according to local media reports. 

According to area residents, the explosion took place around 11:20AM on Wednesday in building Number 39 in Phase 1 of the Al Khail Gate community in Al Quoz.

“It was a very loud noise. Everyone in the surrounding buildings heard it...and we heard people screaming,” an Indian was quoted by Gulf News.

Area residents claimed they saw rubble from the destroyed walls of the apartment was lying on the ground, while the balcony of the flat on the floor immediately below the affected apartment was also damaged. 

Lt. Colonel Ahmad Burquibah, Deputy Director of Search and Rescue at Dubai Police told Gulf News, his teams arrived on site within six minutes of being alerted and were informed two women and a baby were missing. 

“We first found the baby, who sustained minor injuries. Then we found a woman stuck under the rubble, we took her out, and then found the other woman a while later, also under the rubble,” Lt. Col Burquibah told Gulf News.