Power outage after 'loud bang' in Reem Island residential block

Emergency services were at the scene on Saturday morning, after a door was 'blown off its hinges'

Emergency services respond to the incident on Saturday morning. The National

Residents and businesses in parts of Reem Island were left without power on Saturday morning after a loud bang in a residential block.

A door appeared to have been blown off its hinges at the side at the side of a low-rise residential tower that recently opened in the popular Abu Dhabi residential area.

Emergency services rushed to the scene in response to the incident, at the Mangrove Residence.

Residents in nearby homes reported hearing a loud bang at around 7.15am. A door to a maintenance area appeared to have been blown completely open and alarms from the building immediately sounded.

“It sounded like an explosion,” one resident in a neighbouring building said.

“There were five or six workers who were there immediately. It didn’t look like anyone was hurt but they seemed to be panicking. What looked like white smoke was coming out of the side of the building where a door had been completely blown off its hinges.

“Then the emergency services arrived and took control.”

Some residents in nearby buildings lost power for around 45 minutes. A text message from ADDC to those affected blamed an “electric outage incident”. Some businesses in the Shams Boutiq Mall, opposite the building, were also temporarily affected.

Power was restored by 8.10am and fire, ambulance and police left after around 30 minutes.

The Mangrove Residence is between the Reem Diamond Residence and Boardwalk Residence on Reem Island. It is opposite the Boutik Mall and the Sun Tower. It has recently opened although few of its apartments are occupied.

It should not be confused with the distinctive Mangrove Place tower, which is nearby but is not where the incident occured.

Vehicles marked “electrical emergency” remained at the scene after the police, ambulance and fire crews left.