AiBotMANAMA, BAHRAIN – Reports of an explosion were received from the Askar area near the Indian-Bahraini border region on Tuesday, with local authorities scrambling to determine the cause of the blast.
Eyewitnesses described the explosion as a loud and intense blast that shook the ground at approximately 10:45 AM local time. The blast reportedly sent a massive plume of smoke and debris into the air, causing panic among residents in the surrounding areas.
“It was like thunder, but it was not thunder,” said Ahmed Al-Haddad, a witness who was in the area at the time of the explosion. “The ground shook and the windows rattled. We were all shaken by the explosion.”
No injuries or fatalities have been reported in connection with the blast, but officials said that residents were evacuated from the area as a precaution.
The Bahraini authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion, with officials from the Ministry of Interior and the National Civil Defence and Crisis Management Authority (NCD&CMA) arriving at the scene to conduct an on-site investigation.
“We urge everyone in the area to remain calm and allow our teams to work on the investigation,” said a spokesperson for the Bahraini Ministry of Interior. “We take all such incidents seriously and will do everything in our power to determine the cause of the explosion.”
The blast has also raised concerns among local residents, who have taken to social media to express their concerns and speculate about the cause of the explosion.
“Blast heard near Askar, Bahrain! What’s going on?” tweeted one concerned resident. “Is it a gas leak or something more serious?”
While the cause of the explosion remains unclear, officials have ruled out involvement by any militant groups in the region. The Bahraini government has a long-standing security cooperation agreement with the United States and the United Kingdom, with joint security forces patrols regularly taking place in the area.
As the investigation continues, residents in the area remain on high alert, with some expressing concerns about the potential long-term impact on the local community.
“It’s a concerning trend, but we hope that it is an isolated incident,” said Al-Haddad. “We just want to get back to our normal lives.”
The National Civil Defence and Crisis Management Authority is urging anyone with information about the explosion to come forward and assist with the investigation.