A tenant of a residential tower block told the GDN how he helped terrified, dazed and disoriented neighbours down several flights of stairs and helped calm them until emergency services arrived.
The retired British Army veteran, who lives on one of the top floors of Fontana Infinity Tower A in Juffair, was watching TV in his apartment last night when at around 2am an Iranian drone struck the building
“There was a huge noise and at first I thought it was something on the telly,” he said.
“It soon became clear what had happened and I made my way to the stairs.
“On the 17th floor I came across a very distressed young woman who was trying to carry a suitcase down full of her possessions - bless her, the suitcase weighed more than she did.”
He gallantly helped her to the ground floor.
There were many ‘ordinary, innocent civilians’ in a state of shock and he helped calm them and move them out of harm’s way for fear of falling debris as smoke billowed from the burning building.
Moments later flames could be seen lighting the night sky.
The emergency services quickly arrived at the scene and successfully extinguished the blaze.
One apartment was severely damaged but it was empty at the time.
Miraculously no one was injured in the strike, neither at Fontana nor at a second residential building and hotel also hit by the Iranian attack.
“The emergency services were here very quickly and I must admit the employees here were fantastic,” he added.
“The nearby Hilton staff distributed water out and helped evacuate people to a mass shelter.”
By 6am the retired Major, who asked not to be named, returned to the building.
“I was back in the lobby of Fontana, there was water damage but it was safe and comfortable.
“Shortly afterwards the staff in Fontana were back to mopping up and fluffing cushions in the lobby. They’re an absolute credit.”
Although his apartment was not affected he and other returning tenants could not return to gather possessions until all structural and lift safety checks were completed.
The Interior Ministry said in a statement: “Iranian aggression targeted a hotel and two residential buildings in Manama. No loss of life were recorded. Civil defence extinguished a fire in a flat in one of the two buildings.”
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