Massive blast at Dubai fireworks warehouse

by Rob Peters | March 25, 2008 at 10:55 pm

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UPDATE: 11:58AM EST

Two people have now been confirmed dead in the blast at a Dubai fireworks factory.

DUBAI, March 26 (Reuters) - At least two people were killed and two injured when a fire engulfed a fireworks warehouse in Dubai on Wednesday, police said, causing an explosion and bringing parts of the city to a standstill.

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At least one person has been injured by a blast at a fireworks warehouse in an industrial zone of Dubai, police say, that sent smoke billowing into the sky.

It is unclear what caused the blast at around 0700 (0300 GMT) in the al-Quoz Industrial Area, which is home to hundreds of businesses and factories.

Television footage showed a fireball shooting 100m into the sky, followed by a huge plume of smoke and ash.

Around a dozen fire engines and ambulances have been sent to the scene.

All routes towards the area have been closed off, causing a major traffic jam along Sheikh Zayed Road, which links Dubai with Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.