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DUBAI: A huge explosion ripped through a fireworks
warehouse in an industrial area in Dubai on Tuesday, sending a huge
pillar of smoke over the Gulf city-state.
The blast, which took place at a
depot in al-Quoz industrial zone around 7 a.m. (0300 GMT), has
caused at least one injury so far, police officer Mohammad al-Mansouri
said, pointing out that the blaze has been contained.
Dubai-based Al-Arabiya news
channel, which aired exclusive footage of the explosion, showed a
huge fireball shooting around 100 meters into the sky, followed by a
massive eruption of smoke and ashes.
An Agence France-Presse
photographer reported that around a dozen fire engines and
ambulances rushed to the scene while long tails of traffic jammed
the main artery of Sheikh Zayed Road, which links Dubai with Abu
Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
Thick gray smoke billowing over
the zone and neighboring residential areas was visible from a long
distance.
The al-Quoz industrial zone is
home to hundreds of factories and warehouses in the booming emirate,
which has established itself as a regional business and tourism hub.
--AFP
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