Girl injured in blast goes home, but her friend remains critical

DUBAI // One of four teenage girls injured in a suspected gas explosion in Mirdif three weeks ago returned home from hospital yesterday, while two other victims are also showing good signs of recovery, the specialist treating them said. Fatima Housee, 16, had been receiving treatment for burns at Rashid Hospital following the blast at her home on June 18.

Two of the other girls, Daniela Seddon and another girl identified only as Lina, have also made considerable improvement and are now able to walk and eat, said Dr Nael Abousidou, a plastic surgeon at the hospital's burns unit. The fourth and most severely injured of the four, Kim Oberholzer, remains in a critical condition in the hospital's intensive care unit. "Fatima, Daniela and Lina are walking, talking and eating," said Dr Abousidou.

"They are starting to resume their normal lives." Miss Oberholzer, 14, from South Africa, who suffered burns to 55 per cent of her body, developed a lung infection at the end of June, but Dr Abousidou said her condition also shown signs of improvement. "Kim is conscious but is sedated," he said, adding that she had successfully undergone skin grafts on her hands and forearms. The blast in the basement of the Housee family's three-storey home left the girls with severe injuries including second-degree burns.

They remained sedated, incubated and on ventilators in the intensive care unit for days after the explosion. Although the accident was initially blamed on a gas explosion, the exact cause remains unclear. The Housee family, who are from Mauritius, had lived in the house for five years. The girls have yet to speak to police about the incident. The family spoke of their relief at Miss Housee's recovery. Miss Housee is now able to stand and move about, her elder sister said, adding that she had now returned home.

"Fatima still has some bandages on, but she has made lots of progress," Madiha Housee said. "The family are feeling so much better after her improvement." Dubai Municipality and Emirates Gas announced details of a campaign increasing awareness of gas safety on Saturday. The two-week programme focuses on the safe handling, storage and usage of low pressure gas cylinders at restaurants, cafes and hotels.

It will also stress safety precautions such as correct ventilation and maintenance procedures and easy access to fire extinguishers. zconstantine@thenational.ae

In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013

Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

What's in the deal?

Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024

India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.

India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.

Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments

India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery

The BIO:

He became the first Emirati to climb Mount Everest in 2011, from the south section in Nepal

He ascended Mount Everest the next year from the more treacherous north Tibetan side

By 2015, he had completed the Explorers Grand Slam

Last year, he conquered K2, the world’s second-highest mountain located on the Pakistan-Chinese border

He carries dried camel meat, dried dates and a wheat mixture for the final summit push

His new goal is to climb 14 peaks that are more than 8,000 metres above sea level

BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP

Group A

Paraguay
Japan
Switzerland
USA

Group B

Uruguay
Mexico
Italy
Tahiti

Group C

Belarus
UAE
Senegal
Russia

Group D

Brazil
Oman
Portugal
Nigeria

Racecard

6.35pm: The Madjani Stakes – Group 2 (PA) Dh97,500 (Dirt) 1,900m

7.10pm: Evidenza – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,200m

7.45pm: The Longines Conquest – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 2,000m

8.20: The Longines Elegant – Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (D)

8.35pm: The Dubai Creek Mile – Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 1,600m

9.30pm: Mirdif Stakes – Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,400m

10.05pm: The Longines Record – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,900m

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