Cylinder explosion damages five shops

A gas cylinder explosion at  a restaurant in Al Wahda, close to the Way in Shop in Sharjah has damaged the restaurant and four to five adjacent shops.  This follows two other gas cylinder explosions reported from different parts of Sharjah recently. The early morning gas cylinder explosion caused severe damage to the restaurant and four other shops in the building.

“Five shops have been seriously damaged in the explosion, believed to have started from a restaurant at around 2am on Saturday. The affected shops include a Chinese shop, an optical shop, a general trading firm and a hair dressing saloon,” said an eye witness.

Residents on the upper floor of the three-storeyed building were shocked by the huge sound. Panicked residents came out of their flats for safety. Many of the windows glasses were broken, said an eye witness. Sharjah Civil Defence and Police evacuated residents of the upper floors, cordoned off the area, disconnected electricity and started an investigation to determine the cause of explosion. According to preliminary reports, the fire was caused by cylinder gas explosion from the restaurant.

“We are closed now for cleaning and our shop will open only in the evening. The explosion from the restaurant kitchen has caused severe damage to the adjacent shops” said a source in Way In  Goup. As the gas cylinder explosion happened early morning, there are no casualties. The shops were also closed. Sharjah Civil Defence has been urging restaurants to maintain proper care of the gas cylinders with proper ventilation. As the temperature soars, gas cylinders tend to heat up and if kept without proper ventilation, they can explode. It is advised to keep gas cylinders outside the kitchen in open areas to avoid risk from explosions.

 Last week, a cylinder gas explosion in an apartment near Al Wahda Park injured two residents. The residents of the 14-storey Wazir B building adjacent to Al Nahda Park in Sharjah fled for their lives when fire caught the 11th floor after the cylinder blast. According to media reports, A 30-year-old Indian national, identified as Mohammed Harris Koni, recently sustained first degree burns after a gas cylinder exploded at his house in Al Yarmouk area of Sharjah.

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