Two Indians and a Pakistani national were killed on Monday after a fire caused by "small flying objects", possibly drones, triggered an explosion that hit three petroleum tankers in the UAE's capital Abu Dhabi, police said.
Another minor fire broke out in the new construction area of the Abu Dhabi International Airport, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).
"Preliminary investigations suggest that the cause of the fires are small flying objects, possibly belonging to drones, that fell in the two areas. Teams from the competent authorities have been dispatched and the fire is currently being put out," it said.
Abu Dhabi police identified the dead as two Indian nationals and one Pakistani, Gulf News reported.
At least six persons were injured, police said, without disclosing their identity.
Authorities have launched an extensive investigation into the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding it, police said.
"However, there are no significant damages resulting from the two accidents," Wam reported.
Taking to Twitter, the Indian Embassy in UAE said it is in close touch with the concerned authorities. "UAE authorities have informed that the explosion at Mussafah, near ADNOC’s storage tanks, has led to 3 casualties, which includes 2 Indian nationals. The Mission @IndembAbuDhabi is in close touch with concerned UAE authorities for further details," read the tweet.
Meanwhile, Yemen's Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for the "qualitative military operation", news agency IAN S reported.
"An important statement will be announced in the upcoming hours to reveal details on the strategic operation deep inside the UAE," said the group's spokesman Yahya Saree in a brief press statement.
The UAE is an active member of the Saudi-led coalition which has been fighting a large-scale war against the Houthi rebel militia in various areas of Yemen.
The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in 2015 to support the Yemeni internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after the Iran-backed Houthi militia forced him out of the capital Sanaa.
The Houthi militia has recently intensified cross-border drone and missile attacks against different Saudi cities. In February 2021, the Houthi militia launched a major offensive against the government army to capture the oil-rich province of Marib in central Yemen.
(With PTI and IANS inputs)
