MALAYSIAN IN BAHRAIN HEARS EXPLOSIONS NEAR US BASE

LABUAN, March 2 (Bernama) -- A Malaysian working in Bahrain experienced anxious moments when he heard two explosions near a United States base in Juffair on Feb 28, amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following US-Israel attacks on Iran.

Muhamad Nizam Shaidon, 43, who resides in Juffair with his wife and two daughters, said the first explosion occurred at about 11.38 am (Bahrain time), followed by another at 11.50 am at the same location.

“We were at home when we heard a loud explosion. It was very sudden, and the sound was strong enough to jolt us,” he told Bernama when contacted via video call today.

Nizam said at the time of the first blast, his daughters, aged 10 and 13, were attending online Quran lessons, while his wife, Norhani Aida Mohd Nor, 42, was doing household chores.

“I heard a loud buzzing sound, similar to a motorcycle race, believed to be from drones, shortly before the explosions.

“We stayed indoors and monitored the situation. Shortly after, we heard another explosion from the same direction,” he said, adding that there were also reports of explosions in residential areas outside Juffair.

Juffair is home to the United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet base, a key military facility in the Gulf region.

As a precautionary measure, Nizam said he and his family are temporarily staying at the Fraser Suites Seef Bahrain, while closely monitoring the situation.

“For safety reasons, we decided to move temporarily to a hotel. I am working from home for the time being and keeping in constant contact with the Malaysian Embassy,” he said.

Nizam, who works in the financial sector at the Diplomatic Area in Seef, said he contacted the Malaysian Embassy in Bahrain to obtain updates and advice soon after the explosions.

“The embassy has been very helpful in providing verified information and regular safety updates…their response has given us reassurance during this uncertain time,” he said.

He said the embassy had also created a WhatsApp group to disseminate official updates to more than 4,00 Malaysians residing in Bahrain, ensuring the community remains informed and connected.

Nizam added that he and his wife have been in contact with their families back in Malaysia to keep them informed of their situation.

“Our families were naturally worried when they heard about the explosions, so we make it a point to update them regularly and assure them that we are safe.

“We sincerely hope the tensions will end as soon as possible so that life can return to normal for everyone in Bahrain, especially the Malaysian community here,” said Nizam, who was an officer with the Labuan Financial Services Authority before relocating to Bahrain more than 10 years ago

He also advised Malaysians abroad to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information and stay in touch with their respective embassies during uncertain situations.

-- BERNAMA