UAE | General
Earthquake hits UAE's East Coast
A moderate tremor and at least three aftershocks hit the UAE's East Coast last night, triggering panic and prompting residents in several areas of Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah to run out of their homes in the belief that a major earthquake had struck, police and Civil Defence officials said.
- By Fuad Ali and Nasouh Nazzal, Staff Reporters
- Published: 00:00 March 11, 2007
Dubai: A moderate tremor and at least three aftershocks hit the UAE's East Coast last night, triggering panic and prompting residents in several areas of Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah to run out of their homes in the belief that a major earthquake had struck, police and Civil Defence officials said.
The strongest tremors were felt in Masafi, Manama, Bidiya, Siji and other mountainous villages in the Hajar Mountain range near Dhaid, while Adhan and Al Ghal in Ras Al Khaimah experienced minor jolts, officials said.
"The tremors in Masafi were the strongest I have ever experienced," Ahmad Hassan Al Hammoudi, a Civil Defence official in Fujairah, told Gulf News. Arif Esmail, a senior police officer in Fujairah, confirmed that the tremors were felt across the East Coast.
There were no reports of any casualties or damage to property, Civil Defence officials said. The quake struck Masafi at 10.28pm, followed by minor tremors at 10.37pm, 10.53pm and 10.54 pm, they said.
"I had just settled down in bed when I felt the earth below my bed was shaking ... I felt as if I was in a cradle in the middle of the air," Rashid Mohammad a resident of Manama, told Gulf News.
"All Civil Defence personnel rushed to Masafi, trying to calm down panicking residents. As a precaution, we evacuated many people," Al Hammoudi said.
Eyewitnesses reported scenes of panic and fear. "Suddenly everything started spinning and we all ran out instantly," said Masafi resident Salem Bin Taher. When contacted, the Met Office in Abu Dhabi said it had no details on the tremors or their magnitude.
— With additional reports from Nissar Hoath and Bassma Al Jandaly, Staff Reporters
More from UAE General
More from UAE
Latest news
- Tracks to be laid on recycled material
- Golden Hour crucial to a patient's survival
- Opening show worthy of UAE
- Sun is shining on prospects for solar power
- Artists focus on craftsmanship
- World leaders committed to supporting civilians
- Schools open a new page in teaching English
- Special parking to help disabled tourists
- Helping hand surgeons have long sought
- Blind woman lights up corridors of power
- In Mind
- At times, I think of committing suicide
- Designer of a creative haven
- Fund to help Dubai taxi drivers' families
- New life-saving fleet of vehicles
Community Reports
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
-
Supporting the needy with food supplies
Group of families engaged in serving isolated labour community hopes to motivate more people to help underprivileged and hungry
-
Leukaemia boy granted wish to meet footballer
Emirati meets hero Al Qahtani, Al Ain team
