Watch: Five people rescued as 4x4s swept away in Sharjah flash floods

Police have urged members of the public to avoid wadis during heavy rain

Five people were rescued after four cars were swept away in flash floods in Sharjah on Monday as heavy rain lashed the northern emirates.

Dramatic footage of the incident was widely shared on social media.

It shows the 4x4 cars being pushed down Wadi Shees by the fierce waters.

Sharjah Police came to the aid of the group who were left stranded in the wadi.

“The forcefully rushing waters of the valley swept their vehicles away,” said Sharjah Police in a statement.

“The rescue teams got them out of the wadi without injuries.”

Police urged members of the public to avoid wadis during hazardous weather.

Heavy rain was reported on Monday over Khor Fakkan and Wadi Shees in Sharjah and light to moderate rain over Wadi Al Ejili in Ras Al Khaimah, Masafi in Fujairah and Al Rafisah Dam in Sharjah.

The National Centre of Meteorology said that more rainfall is expected in some eastern and northern parts of the country in the coming days.

“Heavy to moderate rain is expected over some eastern areas such as Masafi and Khor Fakkan from Tuesday until Thursday and might reach some areas in Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain,” said Alya Al Hantoobi, an NCM forecaster.

Flash flooding is common in northern parts of the Emirates and police always advise residents not to drive near wadis during treacherous weather.

Ali Al Shammari, founder of volunteer group UAE Rescue, said that irresponsible acts can lead to accidents and sometimes deaths.

“We always tell people to avoid wadis and dangerous places during the rainfall as water can come down suddenly from the mountains and fill the wadis in only few second,” he said.

“If people wish to observe the rain they should do that from high and safe places to avoid accidents and deaths caused by flash floods.”

Fair to partly cloudy weather will persist across the country for the rest of the week. Light to moderate winds will pick up dust and reduce visibility in some areas.

Morning fog will persist as humidity will remain high overnight.

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50 of the best images of the UAE under fog

Reem Island in Abu Dhabi is covered in 2018. Emmanuel Samoglou / The National

Miguel Angel Jimenez and other golfers on the fog covered range at the Dubai Desert Classic in 2011. Mike Young / The National

Dense fog engulfs Abu Dhabi's Al Maryah Island in December 2017. Ravindranath K / The National

Towers in Dubai Media City during the early morning fog in Dubai in April 2020. Pawan Singh / The National

The Fairmont Marina peeks through the fog on the Corniche, Abu Dhabi, on a sunny morning. Victor Besa / The National

Morning fog descends over Dubai Marina in 2013. Sarah Dea / The National

The ground below is swallowed up by fog in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Only the tallest buildings in Dubai sometimes escape the blanket. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Window cleaners work on Al Ain Tower with view of Etihad Towers in the background in Al Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi. Erica ElKhershi / The National

A variety of light captured during fog in Abu Dhabi. Ravindranath K / The National

A fisherman on a misty morning in 2016. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National

Morning fog burns off near Electra Street in Abu Dhabi on December 31, 2008. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National

Fog in Abu Dhabi seen from The Gate Towers on Reem Island in 2015. Irene García León for The National

A light fog covers the Dubai skyline in 2015. Sarah Dea / The National

Cars drive through the morning fog on 24th street in Abu Dhabi in 2009. Galen Clarke / The National

Gate Towers on Abu Dhabi's Reem Island in 2013. Silvia Razgova / The National

Fog over Dubai Marina in 2013. Sarah Dea / The National

Sheikh Zayed bridge engulfed in fog in 2017. Ravindranath K / The National.

Abu Dhabi city on Christmas morning, 2017. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Fog in the city of Abu Dhabi on Christmas morning, 2017. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

The UAE flag stands in the clear against a misty backdrop in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A lady takes her morning walk amid the fog at the Khalifa City A in 2018. Victor Besa / The National

Fog engulfed with high humidity in Abu Dhabi. Rajesh Korde / The National

The Sheikh Zayed Bridge in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A man goes for an early morning cycle as fog covers Dubai on September 21, 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Misty conditions around JBR in Dubai. Sarah Dea / The National

A worker walks through Khalifa City in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Fog over Dubai Marina. Courtesy Ollie Maher

Towers in JLT in Dubai in April 2020. Pawan Singh / The National

Cars emerge from early morning fog on Muroor Road in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Dense fog blankets the Abu Dhabi skyline with Etihad Towers visible. Erica ElKhershi / The National

Workers during early morning fog in the Discovery Gardens area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Dense fog engulfs Abu Dhabi's Al Maryah Island in December 2017. Ravindranath K / The National

Early morning fog in the Discovery Gardens area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

The sun tries to break through a foggy sky in Dubai. Rajesh Korde / The National

The Corniche in Abu Dhabi in February 2018. Victor Besa / The National

The Dubai high rises peek out above the fog. Sarah Dea / The National

Fog hovers in Ras Al Khaimah. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

A gloomy start to a day in Abu Dhabi in 2013. Delores Johnson / The National

A morning fog rolls in over Abu Dhabi at the public beach in Al Bateen on October 28, 2009. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National

Buildings on Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi wrapped in fog in 2013. Brian Kerrigan / The National

Thick morning fog over Dubai Marina. Mark Asquith / The National

Early morning fog around the Dubai Marina area. Antonie Robertson / The National

Dubai Marina has almost vanished in the fog with just the walkway visible in 2014. Jaime Puebla / The National

Dubai Marina in a mix of sunshine and fog in 2014. Jaime Puebla / The National

Fog reported in areas of Dubai, the Northern Emirates and Al Dhafra on Tuesday. Pawan Singh / The National

The seaside takes on a calm serenity in 2017. Ravindranath K / The National

Fog during the morning in the Tecom area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Reem Island's Gate Towers stand tall above the cloud line in Abu Dhabi. Thamer Al Subaihi / The National

Despite heavy fog in Abu Dhabi, a woman spends the morning along the shore in January 2011. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National