Survivors of a gas explosion in Dubai at the weekend suffered severe burns and remain in critical condition, Rashid Hospital said on Monday.
Doctors are treating one patient who has burns over 70 per cent of their body and another who has burns covering 45 per cent of their skin surface.
A third person, caught in the blast on the sixth floor of the residential building in Al Mankhool on Saturday night, arrived at the hospital’s trauma in critical condition, with ambulance staff having to perform cardio pulmonary resuscitation. They died from their injuries shortly afterwards.
A fourth female victim, a non-critical case, has since been released from hospital after receiving treatment for arm injuries.
“Rashid Hospital’s trauma centre received a notification around 7.30pm on Saturday, September 28,” a hospital spokeswoman said on Monday.
“The hospital was notified that three critical cases and one non-critical case were on the way to the emergency room due to a gas explosion at a residential area.”
Rashid Hospital has the only dedicated burn unit in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, and was expanded in 2016.
Emergency services were called to building 455 on 26b street in Al Mankhool area of Bur Dubai following reports of an explosion at around 7pm.
Hundreds of residents were hurried out on to the streets after the side of the building blew out from the force of the explosion — caused by a gas leak igniting.
Neighbours reported a deafening bang, smoke and dust but no flames from the flat where the explosion took place.
The area was sealed off by Dubai Police while investigations got under way.
Residents were allowed back in to some of the surrounding apartments on Monday to assess the damage.
Temporary accommodation was offered by the building’s manager, Al Ghurair Properties, at the nearby Golden Sands hotel apartments.
