Explosion at Bur Dubai laundry injures eight people, triggers police investigation

An explosion struck the Red Palace laundry in Bur Dubai's Meena Bazaar area on a Wednesday afternoon, sending eight people to hospital with burns and cuts from flying glass.

The incident matters now because residents in the old district rely on the busy market for daily shopping and work, and any sudden blast raises immediate questions about safety along Street 41 where shops sit close together.

Police in Bur Dubai confirmed that a woman was among those hurt and that forensic experts were already at the site collecting evidence to determine exactly what triggered the blast.

Statements from officials and the laundry owner

A senior police official told reporters he believed a gas cylinder was involved, though no final statement had been released at the time. Police added that the forensic team would issue its report soon and that the owner was being held while the investigation continued.

The laundry owner, who had stepped out to deliver clothes, said he heard a loud noise from a nearby shop and returned to find the damage but could not explain how it started. Four members of his staff who handle ironing and washing were among those taken to hospital.

Market area and next steps

Glass fragments reached about 100 metres from the laundry, and crews waited to clear the debris while the street remained cordoned. Bystanders near Al Fahidi souq described seeing people struck by shards and a woman leaving her car with blood on her hands and forehead.

Speculation among those at the scene included a high-steam press or stored firecrackers, given the approach of Diwali, but police are treating the cause as undetermined until the forensic findings are complete.

Residents in Bur Dubai can expect updates once the report is ready, and anyone with information is asked to contact local police to assist the ongoing inquiry into the Street 41 blast.