Video: Gas pipeline burst at Karama eatery forces evacuation of residents

A gas pipeline burst at Ustad restaurant in Karama early morning today had Dubai Police barricading the road and evacuating residents in the vicinity.

A Dubai Civil Defence official said the blast was linked to the gas pipeline that runs through Al Maskaan Building. An assessment of structural damage to the building is being carried out.

Update at 11.35am
The internal road running between Lulu Hypermarket and Al Maskan building has now opened to traffic. The internal road between Al Maskaan and Emarat Station remains partially cordoned off.

Police is now routing traffic around Al Karama Street as clean-up operations are underway. Workers are clearing debris from the building walkway and sidewalk. 

Dubai Municipality workers can be seen using a portable crane to clear debris from the public sidewalk.

Clean-up crew have also entered Ustad Restaurant and can be seen carrying out fallen scaffolding and metal structures.  

Update at 9.55am:
At 9.55am, part of the internal road has now reopened to traffic, but the blast zone remains cordoned off. The road has been partially reopened to traffic, but authorities are advising commuters to avoid the stretch if possible. 

Debris could be seen strewn across the block and the structure of the Emarat petrol station near the restaurant also showed signs of damage. Dubai Police and the Civil Defence were on the scene in no time.

Earlier

A fire at Ustad restaurant in Karama early morning today had Dubai Police barricading the road and evacuating residents in the vicinity.

A Dubai Civil Defence official said the cause of the blast has been linked to the gas pipeline that runs through Al Maskaan Building. He said the they received the call at 7am and immediately despatched officials to the site.

An assessment of structural damage to the building is being carried out. The blast took out part of the first floor balcony roof as well as the top floor roof. 

Residents in adjoining areas of Karama say they heard a loud explosion between 7am and 7.15am. 

An eyewitness in the nearby Lulu Hypermarket building said he was jolted by the impact of the explosion, which also shattered the glass door of the garbage room of the Lulu Hypermarket building.

Security guard Mushtaq said he rushed out when he heard the explosion, and saw the entire block covered with glass and debris. 

The infrastructure damage is centred around Ustad Restaurant in Al Maskaan Building, Karama.

Police authorities have cordoned off the block, including the Emarat fuel station, to vehicular access, .

Officials from Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority as well as Dubai Municipality were on the scene.

There is no news of any major casualties so far. Dubai Civil Defence confirmed that one person was injured, who was treated for the injuries on site before being taken to hospital.

Some vehicles parked on the street and in the gas station, however, were affected due to debris falling on them. Neighbouring sweets shop Veranda, which shared a wall with Ustad, has also sustained damage, along with Zam Zam Bakes. 

Yusuf, another security guard in one of the neighbouring buildings, said the street was relatively empty at the time of the incident. Parker, a 17-year-old boy, said his friend lives in the next building and he rushed over to make sure he was okay.

Residents have been allowed back into the building but the Dewa connection has been disconnected as a safety measure. 

An hour-and-a-half after the incident, shattered glass could be seen on the front façade of a building one block away. Debris from restaurant could be seen as far as on the road behind Emarat, near sheikh Rashid Road. 

One of the cars damaged in the blast has been moved at a distance by the police to make way for clean-up operations. 

Rajesh, who works in Allmax Trading next to Ustad, said: "The shop opens at 8am so no one was there when the explosion happened. We aren’t being allowed inside as yet to assess the damage.”

His wife Rinku was counting her blessings that her husband wasn't in the shop when the explosion occurred.

Maintenance crew have arrived to assess the damage. Several first floor residents of Al Maskaan building have not yet been allowed into their apartments.

A resident, who chose to remain anonymous, said he woke up hearing the blast and came rushing out of the house in fright.

"All of us were in the corridor panicked, running out. We are now not being allowed up because the ‘A Block’ side has sustained damages. The police asked us to wait.”

On the other side damages also sustained to Farm Fresh vegetables store and UTI International. Neighbouring retail outlets that seem to be impacted by the blast include Lovely Brides Boutique, Zenith Fashion, AllMax Trading and ACCS computer. 

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