Gas cylinder blast blamed for Abu Dhabi fire
A fire struck downtown Abu Dhabi early Wednesday, with authorities initially blaming a gas cylinder for an explosion caught on camera in social media.
The blast struck Hamdan Street in the capital of the United Arab Emirates as it hosts the FIFA Club World Cup. Journalists from Brazil covering Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras' win against Egypt's Al Ahly initially reported on the explosion.
The state-run WAM news agency described the fire just after midnight as coming from “a gas cylinder explosion.”
Some footage showed what appeared to be a fireball on the roof of a building as emergency service vehicles could be seen on the street.
The fireball quickly dissipated in the footage and appeared to cause no structural damage to the building.
The images seen in videos corresponded to known features in Abu Dhabi. The WAM report said there were no injuries.
“The process of cooling and limiting the damage caused by the fire is underway,” WAM said.
The incident comes after Yemen's Houthi rebels have launched several attacks targeting Abu Dhabi, including a Jan. 17 attack that killed three people and wounded six.The US Embassy in Abu Dhabi warned Americans of “reports of a possible missile or drone strike having occurred over Abu Dhabi,” without elaborating. However, the Houthis and their associated media did not immediately claim any attack.
In a later statement, the embassy cited the Emirati authorities' notification that the blast was a gas cylinder explosion, saying it had an obligation to inform US citizens of potential threats.
"Against the backdrop of recent security incidents, reports of audible and visible explosions in Abu Dhabi early this morning prompted the embassy to issue a security alert to American citizens and personnel,” the statement said.
"Subsequently, the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority issued a public notification widely across all media channels confirming that the incident was the result of a gas cylinder explosion.
"The embassy extends its gratitude to the Abu Dhabi emergency responders who contained the incident quickly and assured the safety of the city's residents."
The UAE has been on alert since a drone and missile attack killed three oil workers in Abu Dhabi on January 17.
Authorities have since thwarted three similar attacks.
The state-run WAM news agency described the fire just after midnight as coming from “a gas cylinder explosion.”
Some footage showed what appeared to be a fireball on the roof of a building as emergency service vehicles could be seen on the street.
The fireball quickly dissipated in the footage and appeared to cause no structural damage to the building.
The images seen in videos corresponded to known features in Abu Dhabi. The WAM report said there were no injuries.
“The process of cooling and limiting the damage caused by the fire is underway,” WAM said.
The incident comes after Yemen's Houthi rebels have launched several attacks targeting Abu Dhabi, including a Jan. 17 attack that killed three people and wounded six.The US Embassy in Abu Dhabi warned Americans of “reports of a possible missile or drone strike having occurred over Abu Dhabi,” without elaborating. However, the Houthis and their associated media did not immediately claim any attack.
In a later statement, the embassy cited the Emirati authorities' notification that the blast was a gas cylinder explosion, saying it had an obligation to inform US citizens of potential threats.
"Against the backdrop of recent security incidents, reports of audible and visible explosions in Abu Dhabi early this morning prompted the embassy to issue a security alert to American citizens and personnel,” the statement said.
"Subsequently, the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority issued a public notification widely across all media channels confirming that the incident was the result of a gas cylinder explosion.
"The embassy extends its gratitude to the Abu Dhabi emergency responders who contained the incident quickly and assured the safety of the city's residents."
The UAE has been on alert since a drone and missile attack killed three oil workers in Abu Dhabi on January 17.
Authorities have since thwarted three similar attacks.