UAE | Traffic and Transport

Lack of public cooperation hits rescue efforts during fog

Some motorists refused to give way to emergency vehicles, complicating rescue efforts on a day that saw 150 traffic accidents brought on by heavy fog.

  • By Nina Muslim and Alia Al Theeb, Staff Reporters
  • Published: 00:00 February 26, 2007
  • Gulf News

  • A police officer directs traffic past an accident site on the Al Khail Road, near the Jumeirah turn-off heading towards Hatta. Yesterday's heavy fog caused some 150 accidents on Dubai's roads.
  • Image Credit: Megan Hirons/Gulf News

Dubai: Some motorists refused to give way to emergency vehicles, complicating rescue efforts on a day that saw 150 traffic accidents brought on by heavy fog.

The early morning fog, combined with speeding and not enough space left between vehicles, caused 152 accidents and more than 90 injuries yesterday.

Omer Sakaf, head trainer at the Unified Ambulance Department, told Gulf News the fog that blanketed Dubai did not complicate rescue efforts as much as the lack of public cooperation.

"The visibility was very poor. But we had a problem with public awareness. Some motorists did not give way to our emergency vehicles," he said.

On alert

Despite the difficulties, he said emergency workers performed admirably, coordinating with other departments to transport and treat the wounded. Over 35 ambulances and emergency vehicles, plus two helicopters, transported the injured to Rashid Hospital Trauma Centre, Dubai Hospital and Al Baraha Hospital. Authorities were so concerned at the rate of accidents and number of injured that they put the American Hospital in Dubai and Welcare Hospital on alert to receive emergency cases.

By 11.30 am, the trauma centre had received 37 cases from three separate traffic accidents, while Dubai Hospital took 21 cases and Al Baraha Hospital 35 cases. The trauma centre also received a critically-wounded accident victim, flown in from Sharjah.

Dr. G.Y. Naroo, doctor in charge of the Trauma Centre, told Gulf News staff at the centre had their hands full with cases arriving as early as 7.30am.

Ram Bilas Takur, a carpenter, was on his way to work when the bus carrying him and other workers to a site in Al Quoz hit the trailer in front of them, which had stopped suddenly after hitting the bus in front of it, which in turn had hit the bus in front. He told Gulf News he was thrown against the seat in front of him, sustaining cuts and bruises. The day also saw a 35-vehicle collision on Dubai-Al Ain Road. One woman was moderately injured and a few lightly injured, including four female students.

Colonel Al Shamsi, director of Dubai Police Control and Command Room, said drivers should turn on their headlights so other motorists can see them.

Diversions and delays for air passengers

The heavy fog yesterday morning caused severe disruption at UAE airports, causing more than 20 incoming flights to be diverted and delaying countless outbound services.

Forecasters warned Dubai and Sharjah could see more foggy weather this morning, although Abu Dhabi is likely to remain clear. The severe weather yesterday meant 16 incoming flights were diverted from Dubai airport to places as far afield as Kuwait.

Eight flights due to fly into Sharjah airport were sent elsewhere, while officials at Abu Dhabi airport reported four incoming flights were diverted.

In addition, many outgoing services from the airports were delayed. The fog, which began to form at about 3am hit Sharjah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah, with visibility plunging to less than 100 metres.

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