DUBAI // The families of three of the teenage girls seriously injured in a suspected gas explosion waited anxiously yesterday as they underwent surgery.
Three of the four girls required operations to clean their wounds and remove dead tissue after the blast last weekend. Their condition last night was described as critical but stable.
The explosion happened last Friday in the basement of a three-storey house in Mirdif rented by the Housee family.
Fatima Housee, 16, Kim Oberholzer and Daniela Seddon, both 14, and another girl, who has not yet been named, were all badly burnt.
At 10.30 yesterday morning surgeons began a three-hour operation on Kim, a South African, who is the most severely injured of the girls.
The surgery treated the burns that cover 55 per cent of her body, according to Dr Nael Abousidou, a specialist plastic surgeon at Rashid Hospital's burns unit.
"She has burns to her face, neck, arms, legs and some of the abdomen and back," he said. "They are second-degree, deep burns. She was the most affected of the four girls."
The girls remain in induced comas at Rashid Hospital's surgical intensive care unit, where they are being treated for first and second degree burns.
"Their conditions are still critical, they are still being incubated and will return to the ICU," Dr Abousidou said, adding that a team of medical staff were assessing each case on an hourly basis.
"Until now they are in a stationary condition, they are not deteriorating and we are monitoring them."
Madiha Housee, Fatima's older sister, said her parents and the rest of the family remain worried about her condition. Since the accident, two of her brothers who now live in Saudi Arabia and the UK have returned to Dubai to be with the family.
"Fatima is the youngest and our parents are of course very worried and always at the hospital," said Ms Housee, 29. "I saw her today, she seems stable, but is still unconscious."
Just how long the girls will continue to be kept under sedation, incubated and ventilated, will depend on their progress and lung function, which was affected by smoke inhalation. Dino Oberholzer, Kim's father, said his daughter is expected to undergo another operation, which is likely to take place in the next week. Since Friday, Mr Oberholzer and his wife have remained at the hospital whenever possible.
"It is not easy for us," he said. "It's hard to even sleep at night, it's really not easy."
On Monday, the police closed the case, concluding that the suspected gas explosion was an accident and confirming that there would be no criminal charges. Dubai Civil Defence said earlier that the explosion happened when gas was ignited by an electrical discharge when one of the girls turned on a basement light.
However, a police report suggested the explosion could have been caused by a spark from a match used by one of the girls to light an oven.
According to Ms Housee, the family have so far not been informed of the cause of the blast or the results of the investigation. The Housee family, originally from Mauritius, have lived in the UAE for 10 years, and in the villa in Mirdif for the past five. After the accident on Friday, Ms Housee, her husband, parents, brother and sister-in-law left the villa, and have been staying with friends and family.
zconstantine@thenational.ae
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
The%20Roundup
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In Praise of Zayed
A thousand grains of Sand whirl in the sky
To mark the journey of one passer-by
If then a Cavalcade disturbs the scene,
Shall such grains sing before they start to fly?
What man of Honour, and to Honour bred
Will fear to go wherever Truth has led?
For though a Thousand urge him to retreat
He'll laugh, until such counsellors have fled.
Stands always One, defiant and alone
Against the Many, when all Hope has flown.
Then comes the Test; and only then the time
Of reckoning what each can call his own.
History will not forget: that one small Seed
Sufficed to tip the Scales in time of need.
More than a debt, the Emirates owe to Zayed
Their very Souls, from outside influence freed.
No praise from Roderic can increase his Fame.
Steadfastness was the Essence of his name.
The changing years grow Gardens in the Sand
And build new Roads to Sand which stays the same.
But Hearts are not rebuilt, nor Seed resown.
What was, remains, essentially Alone.
Until the Golden Messenger, all-wise,
Calls out: "Come now, my Friend!" - and All is known
- Roderic Fenwick Owen
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
}Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby