Two people were killed in Abu Dhabi as a powerful explosion ripped through a city in the restaurant, reported news agency PTI quoting police officials. The blast, which took place at the fast food restaurant in a building on Rashid Bin Saeed Street, also injured several people, PTI reported quoting Khaleej Times.

“According to on-site investigations, the incident was caused by a misalignment in the gas container fittings following refuelling,” the Abu Dhabi Media Office said.

Emergency response teams evacuated residents of the building and cordoned off the area, the Abu Dhabi Police said.

Two persons have been killed in the explosion, the Abu Dhabi Media office said in a statement on social media.

One of the deceased was present near the site while the other one was a passer-by who was hit by debris, it said.

The Rapid Intervention Teams of the Emergency and Public Safety Directorate are currently at the site to ensure public safety.

The sound from the explosion was “so loud that it shook the area”, an eyewitness was quoted as saying by the report.

“I was driving in the area when the incident occurred. I heard a very loud sound. It was so scary,” said Julius Banks, a taxi driver in Abu Dhabi.

The entire restaurant and the ground floor of the building were gutted in the blast. A number of vehicles parked outside were also damaged, the report said.

The blast occurred on the day when the first flight the United Kingdom landed on Abu Dhabi. The city is also supposed to host the Indian Premiere League in a matter of few days.