Municipal workers clear a flooded tunnel in Sharjah on Sunday morning. Tunnels across the country quickly filled with water during the weekend deluge, leaving many cars stranded. Courtesy: Sharjah Municipality
Municipal workers clear a flooded tunnel in Sharjah on Sunday morning. Tunnels across the country quickly filled with water during the weekend deluge, leaving many cars stranded. Courtesy: Sharjah Municipality
Municipal workers clear a flooded tunnel in Sharjah on Sunday morning. Tunnels across the country quickly filled with water during the weekend deluge, leaving many cars stranded. Courtesy: Sharjah Municipality
Municipal workers clear a flooded tunnel in Sharjah on Sunday morning. Tunnels across the country quickly filled with water during the weekend deluge, leaving many cars stranded. Courtesy: Sharjah Mun

Emirati woman saved from flooded tunnel thanks police in radio call


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An Emirati motorist has thanked Dubai Police for saving her life after her vehicle was swamped by water in a flooded tunnel.

Reem Al Falasi was driving to the Intercontinental Hotel in Festival City on Saturday night when she entered an underpass near the mall.

“I thought that the water level in the tunnel would be the same as on the streets but the car started to drown,” Ms Al Falasi said in a call to radio show Al Khat Al Mubashar (The Direct Line), on Noor Dubai radio.

“I didn’t realise who deep it can be until I started drowning in the car and I thought I was going to die."

Ms Al Falasi called the police operation room who sent officers to the scene.

“A rescue team quickly came to pull me out of the car. I honestly see such acts in the movies and didn’t expect it to be so real,” she said.

Ms Al Falasi was pulled out of a window and was placed on the rooftop of the car until officers managed to get her out of the tunnel safely.

She thanked officers for their fast response and dedication. A police spokesman invited her to visit the operations room so that she can see how they deal with emergency calls from the second they come in.

On Saturday, Dubai police said it dealt with 1,880 accidents had been recorded since Thursday, of which 55 were serious.

Among these was an Asian woman who was knocked down by a car in Jumeirah Lakes Towers and a motorcyclist in Jumeirah Village Circle who was hit by a vehicle.

Both were seriously hurt and taken to hospital.

Snow hits the Northern Emirates - in pictures

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    It was cold enough for a group of 4x4 enthusiasts to build this snowman on Jebel Jais - a rare sight in the Emirates. Courtesy: Ahmed Al Bedwawi
  • A blizzard brought temperatures down to zero celsius
    A blizzard brought temperatures down to zero celsius
  • Ahmed Al Bedwawi captured this footage from a drone high above snow-topped Jebel Jais
    Ahmed Al Bedwawi captured this footage from a drone high above snow-topped Jebel Jais
  • Ahmed Al Bedwawi captured this footage from a drone high above snow-topped Jebel Jais
    Ahmed Al Bedwawi captured this footage from a drone high above snow-topped Jebel Jais
  • A driver contends with blizzards as a blanket of snow covers the ground on Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah
    A driver contends with blizzards as a blanket of snow covers the ground on Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah