Mountainous areas and valleys in the emirate witnessed heavy showers, causing flash floods.- Supplied photo
Dubai - Investigations show that the missing driver is an Arab resident in his forties.
Published: Wed 17 Oct 2018, 7:31 PM
Last updated: Thu 18 Oct 2018, 9:00 AM
Three vehicles, including two SUVs and a concrete mixer truck, were washed away in Ras Al Khaimah as heavy rains lashed different parts of the emirate on Tuesday. Driver of the truck is missing while three Emiratis in the SUVs were rescued by the police.
The Ras Al Khaimah Police, in collaboration with the Dubai Police, recovered the SUVs while search operations are continuing for the truck, a police officer told Khaleej Times.
Mountainous areas and valleys in the emirate witnessed heavy showers, causing flash floods. Despite repetitive warning from the authorities, three Emirati young men in three four-wheel-drive cars got closer to the running streams in Al Qur valley. The police rescue teams managed to save the lives of the men.
Sources at the RAK Police said that the central operations room was alerted on Tuesday at 8:23pm that a concrete mixer truck with a driver at the wheel got swept by the floods at Al Qur valley.
"The RAK police, in collaboration with the National Centre for Search and Rescue of the Supreme Council for State Security, dispatched a chopper to the reported site and launched an intensive search operation at night, but nothing was found due to the poor visibility."
Search operations continued on Wednesday, but nothing was found so far, they added.
"Investigations show that the missing driver is an Arab resident in his forties. He was trying to cross the valley when the water was shallow, but the water flow increased suddenly and he lost control of the vehicle which overturned in the deep valley."
A few days ago, heavy showers lashed the mountainous Aasama area, some 15km to the north of Masafi. The Agili valley in the south also saw heavy downpour that caused flooding in the valleys.
Residents said they expected more showers as the sky was filled with clouds.
Don't spread rumours, warn police
The RAK Police warned the public against spreading rumours. "The public is urged to get trusted information from official sources and never post or share fake news and baseless stories on social media."
The police has further deployed more patrols to ensure traffic flow and attend to emergency cases if needed, urging drivers to take precautionary measures and avoid the valleys and mountains.
"It is so risky to go out or drive under the heavy showers or to the flooded valleys."
The mountainous valleys are filled with rain water, said police sources. "The public is urged to avoid the valleys and slippery roads, and contact the central operations room in case of emergency."
Department of public works geared up
The Department of Public Works in Ras Al Khaimah has deployed several tankers and staff to drain any accumulated rainwater to ensure public safety.
Ahmed Al Hammadi, director-general of the department, said they are ready for the coming seasonal showers with 80 tankers and 40 pumping machines.
"The department, which drained millions of gallons of rainwater last season, has come up with efficient and practical solutions to prevent showers from flooding the houses of in the valleys and mountains."
"We have removed all the farms and makeshift houses built illegally on the streams of the valleys."
Late in November 2017, five Indian nationals were rescued from a car that was washed away by flood waters in Khor Fakkan. Later, the rescue personnel managed to recover the body of a missing Indian student, who was with them, close to the Omani borders.
More rain to come
The National Centre for Meteorology (NCM) announced on Wednesday that more rains are expected in the coming days across the eastern parts of the country. An official at the NCM told Khaleej Times that areas in Al Ain, Hatta, Masafi, Fujairah and mountains in Ras Al Khaimah will experience showers in the coming days. "More showers are also expected west of Abu Dhabi and near Al Sila area," he said.
As per an NCM report on Tuesday, the lowest temperature recorded over the country was 14.8 degree Celsius in Jebel Jais at 4:45am. Some areas of the eastern and northern region experienced rains of various intensity.
Dr Ahmad Habin, a weather expert with the NCM, said that the weather is partly cloudy to cloudy at times over scattered areas with chance of some rainfall.
"Light to moderate winds in general, freshening at times, will be causing blowing dust. The relative humidity will increase during Thursday early morning over some coastal and internal areas. Sea is slight to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and in the Oman Sea."
Heavy rains have lashed the eastern parts of the UAE, particularly Al Gur area near Hatta, Shawkah area in Ras Al Khaimah, Wadi Al Helo in Sharjah, and some parts in the north near Masafi, he added.
"Clouds have formed near Al Ain, which also caused some downpour, mainly in Hafeet area," he said. "Thunder and hailstorm were also reported in Al Gur area near Hatta."
The maximum amount of showers reported on Tuesday hit 33.4mm in the area, while Khatm Al Shakla in Al Ain saw up to 32mm rains. Jebel Hafeet area experienced 29.4mm rain, Dr Habib explained.
"The low pressure attracting moisture and winds is the main reason behind the formation of heavy clouds along the entire eastern parts of the UAE, and the heavy showers reported on Tuesday."
"More clouds and rains are expected over the coming few days on the eastern parts of the country, near Al Ain, at Hatta, Masafi, particularly Wadi Mareedh, Wadi Mai in Fujairah, and over the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah," he said.
Sharjah - Kalba road closed
The Sharjah Police have closed down the Sharjah-Kalba Road over Wadi Al Hilo in both directions, because of the heavy showers and accumulated rainwater.
"Motorists are advised to be extra careful and take alternative routes until the road is reopened."
The police have also urged motorists and heavy truck drivers to observe traffic rules, reduce speed and pull over to the road shoulder during poor visibility.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com
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