RAS AL KHAIMAH // The death of a mother and three young children in a flash flood in a southern Ras Al Khaimah wadi prompted police to issue warnings about the dangers of extreme weather.
Amna Al Jabiri, and her three youngest children Moza, 11, Mansour, 6, and Fazaa, 3, died after their car became stuck in floodwaters in Wadi Al Qor on Wednesday. Ali Al Kindi, Amna’s husband and the father of the children, was rescued by police.
The family had driven to the remote wadi to watch the thunderstorm that lashed rural areas in the south of the emirate.
“We call on all drivers to avoid the mountain areas, valleys, and dams in this weather,” said Lt Col Marwan Jakah, director of media and public relations at RAK Police. “We intensify patrols in these places to ensure that no one is exposed to any harm because valleys are dangerous places, and we ask people to avoid visiting these places even after the weather becomes calm.”
RAK Police closed the road to Jebel Jais and some valleys, including Wadi Al Beeh, after the thunderstorm caused flooding in the area.
“On Wednesday we rescued a Bahraini family and 10 Asian people who were stuck in the mountain and valley areas,” said Lt Col Jakah, confirming that there were no injuries or deaths in the area. He urged people to call 999 in an emergency.
Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister for Climate Change and Environment, carried out an inspection tour of dams and valleys in Fujairah and RAK yesterday.
He said most accidents that occured in remote areas were down to people’s lack of awareness of the conditions and knowledge of the area.
Infrastructure in the valleys was excellent and all dams and valleys had good roads and places to park, he said, but a lack of knowledge led people to act in potentially dangerous ways, causing accidents. “They should not drive to these places in rainy and windy weather because of the power of the water.”
roueiti@thenational.ae
