On Friday, September 12, a domestic worker sustained severe burns in a gas-cylinder explosion that damaged a family home in Wadi Esfita, 96 kilometers south of Ras Al Khaimah.
Musabah Muhammad Al-Laili, a resident of the affected house, shared with Khaleej Times that divine intervention spared his family, including his children, from harm. The family had gathered at his late father’s home, as they do every Friday, when the explosion occurred.
“During the evening call to prayer, my sister and I were outside when we heard a loud explosion,” Al-Laili recounted. “Initially, we thought it was just a door slamming, but then a housemaid shouted, ‘Fire, fire!’ We rushed to find our home damaged.”
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The explosion originated in the kitchen when a rat gnawed through the gas cylinder hose, causing a leak. Investigators confirmed that the ignition caused the blast.
“The force was astonishing,” Al-Laili stated. “The kitchen door was propelled nearly 50 meters. Utensils melted, the air-conditioner and refrigerator were destroyed, the plastic ceiling fell, and fans and other equipment were shattered. It was as if the entire place had been torn apart.”
The domestic worker, in her 40s and of Asian descent, was in the kitchen during the explosion. She suffered second and third-degree burns over most of her body. Initially, doctors estimated 98% burns, later adjusting to 67% after treatment.
She was first taken to Fujairah Hospital and then transferred to Sheikh Khalifa Specialty Hospital due to her critical condition.
“She fled to my sister’s nearby house after the explosion,” Al-Laili said. “Her condition is very serious. We are heartbroken and praying for her recovery, though doctors say it will be very difficult. Ultimately, everything is in God’s hands.”
Emergency teams from Ras Al Khaimah Police and Civil Defence, along with fire investigation experts, quickly arrived at the scene. “We are very thankful for their swift response,” Al-Laili expressed.
He urged other families to stay vigilant. “Everyone should inspect their gas connections and ensure ventilation before using the stove. Even a small issue, like a rat biting a pipe, can lead to disaster.”
The Al-Laili family was not at home during the explosion. They expressed relief that no one else was inside, though they were deeply affected by the domestic worker’s condition.
