An Emirati girl was found dead after flash floods swept away three vehicles on the UAE's east coast.
Twelve people were reported missing in three separate incidents on Tuesday when heavy rain led to flooding in Fujairah and Sharjah's east coast enclave.
Sharjah Police confirmed eight people were rescued, three were still missing and one was found dead near the village of Wadi Al Helo.
“The search and rescue teams managed to find eight citizens, including a woman in a critical condition who was transferred to hospital," an official said on Wednesday morning.
"Torrents washed away their vehicles in the valleys."Brig Abdullah bin Amer, deputy chief of Sharjah Police, said Civil Defence, the Ministry of Interior's air wing, the National Search and Rescue Centre and National Ambulance service were all drafted in.
The first report came in at 5.25pm about three young Emiratis in a vehicle spotted drifting away in the valley. The road they were on had been closed by police for safety reasons.
“The team managed to find one of the three missing young men while the search is still ongoing to find the other two,” police said.
The second report was received at 6.50pm about a family car that was swept away in the valley. Inside was a father and three of his children - a girl and two boys.
“The team found one of the boys and he is in good health condition. The father was found after a painstaking search and was transferred to hospital," an official said.
A search and rescue helicopter hovers over a flooded wadi near the village of Wadi Al Helo on the east coast. Courtesy: Sharjah Police
A search and rescue helicopter hovers over a flooded wadi near the village of Wadi Al Helo on the east coast. Courtesy: Sharjah Police
An Emirati girl was found dead after flash floods swept away three vehicles on the UAE's east coast.
Twelve people were reported missing in three separate incidents on Tuesday when heavy rain led to flooding in Fujairah and Sharjah's east coast enclave.
Sharjah Police confirmed eight people were rescued, three were still missing and one was found dead near the village of Wadi Al Helo.
“The search and rescue teams managed to find eight citizens, including a woman in a critical condition who was transferred to hospital," an official said on Wednesday morning.
"Torrents washed away their vehicles in the valleys."
Torrents washed away their vehicles in the valleys
Police official
Brig Abdullah bin Amer, deputy chief of Sharjah Police, said Civil Defence, the Ministry of Interior's air wing, the National Search and Rescue Centre and National Ambulance service were all drafted in.
The first report came in at 5.25pm about three young Emiratis in a vehicle spotted drifting away in the valley. The road they were on had been closed by police for safety reasons.
“The team managed to find one of the three missing young men while the search is still ongoing to find the other two,” police said.
The second report was received at 6.50pm about a family car that was swept away in the valley. Inside was a father and three of his children - a girl and two boys.
“The team found one of the boys and he is in good health condition. The father was found after a painstaking search and was transferred to hospital," an official said.
"The rescue operation is still under way to find the second son, while the girl was found dead."
A further five people, Emiratis from a single family, were rescued in the third search after police received a report at 10.20pm.
“The mother, father and three children are all in good health," the police said.
The search for the missing people continued overnight and into Wednesday.
Police warned residents to steer clear of wadis during bad weather and not venture down roads that were closed to avoid further tragedy.
SOURCE : NATIONAL AE