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5 Filipinos hurt in Abu Dhabi blast released from hospital

Philippines | National

5 Filipinos hurt in Abu Dhabi blast released from hospital

By Roy Mabasa

Five of the eight Filipinos injured from the gas explosion at a restaurant in Abu Dhabi have now been released from the hospital, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday night.

MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO

The DFA said the remaining three are recuperating in two separate hospitals from minor to moderate injuries sustained during the blast. Two Filipinos died from the incident.

“The DFA, through the (Philippine) Embassy, continues to monitor the situation of our fellow Filipinos in the UAE and remains ready to extend assistance,” the department said in a statement released shortly before midnight of Thursday.

Initial reports issued by authorities in Abu Dhabi showed that a gas leak at a fast food place on Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Road caused the deadly explosion.

The blast, which occurred at around 10:15 a.m. on Monday, destroyed a KFC store and other nearby shops.

The UAE is the second-largest concentration of overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East, next only to Saudi Arabia. The majority of Filipinos in the Emirates are in the household and service sectors.

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