Abu Dhabi: A specialised team of officials has been trained to conduct search and rescue operations in flooded valleys and other sites, the Abu Dhabi Police announced in a statement sent today (May 30).
The team has been developed as part of the police’s strategy to enhance performance and provide better services to residents.
Brigadier Hussain Al Harithi, director-general of central operations at Abu Dhabi Police, said the department was working to diversify services in various fields, which would help enhance the safety and security of the community.
Colonel Mohammad Al Amiri, director of emergency and public safety at Abu Dhabi Police, added that the team had been provided with the latest equipment to aid search and rescue operations, including inflatable boats that can be used in valleys, flood-hit areas and torrential waters. Personnel have also been trained in diving and to conduct rescues in torrential waters and closed and confined spaces like wells and tunnels. They have performed several drills in the field, and have been accepted by international maritime rescue organisations for their ability to perform effective search and rescue in valleys, Al Amiri said.
Flash floods are common in the UAE’s valleys during the rainy season, and in the past, residents who have ventured out to the wadis to enjoy the rains have drowned. There is also a risk of getting stranded during sudden floods, and officials therefore urge great caution.
