Bbc News: bbc news — NI woman sheltered in Dubai hotel basement after air strikes
Katy McKinney, from Antrim, says she sheltered in a hotel basement in Dubai after air strikes and is not sure when she will be able to return home, a situation she described to news. McKinney was visiting Dubai with her husband on a business trip when Israel and the US launched an attack against Iran on Saturday and Iran responded by firing ballistic missiles and drones across the region.
News: Evacuation to basement
McKinney said her hotel in Dubai was evacuated early on Sunday and that she and other guests were moved to a basement. "At quarter past two in the middle of the night, there was an emergency message being blared out throughout the hotel, " she said. "We basically just threw clothes on, grabbed our phones and just headed to the nearest stairs. " Guests were able to exit the basement and return to their rooms after a few hours, McKinney said, and since then she had only been able to hear "banging" in the distance.
Near Fairmont The Palm hotel
McKinney said her hotel is near the Fairmont The Palm hotel which was struck by a large explosion. "We could actually see the smoke coming from that hotel. It definitely heightened our worry, " she said. "What frightens myself and my husband is what I think has happened with Fairmont, " McKinney added. "The aftermath of a drone or a missile being intercepted. I think that's what happened. So that is in the back of your mind. "
Strikes reached homes in Dubai
People in the UAE described the regional fighting as personal. One UK citizen surveying wreckage said: "It stinks of oil in here, " after a drone burst through his living room window. Another British citizen filmed broken glass and shrapnel that had burst through his living room window and said: "No joking guys, we have just been hit by a drone. It stinks of oil in here. " The strikes reached people's homes in Dubai on day two of the conflict, with intercepted drones seen falling into residential areas and people hearing shouting in fear and disbelief.
Dubai International Airport damage
Iran responded to the Saturday attack by firing ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allies across the region, targeting Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. Authorities said Dubai International Airport — the world's busiest by passenger traffic — was damaged in an "incident" that injured four staff. The UAE has intercepted hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones in the last 36 hours, but that has not stopped some areas getting hit; both airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi were struck overnight.
Warnings, travel disruption and casualties
The Foreign Office has warned British citizens against all but essential travel to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE. People already in the region have been advised to shelter. Flights have been diverted or cancelled, with journeys to and from Tel Aviv, Dubai, Doha and other international hubs affected. The government confirmed three people have been killed and dozens more were injured.
