Sharjah Police Warns Beachgoers After 5 Drowning Cases

As the winter season approaches, the sea could be more rough and dangerous, so the Sharjah Police and the Ajman Civil Defense warned beachgoers to be more cautious.

Both the authorities issued warnings to beachgoers and fishermen to take extra care during the season when high tidal waves occur.

They also urged parents to keep an eye on their children, and to report any incident to the rescue teams deployed on the beaches.

“We have placed warning signboards, but people continue to swim in dangerous areas, adding that more than 12 drowning cases were reported in 2015. But this year, the number was less and we are making efforts to further reduce it,” an official with the Sharjah Police said.

“Swimmers must not go very far off the shore, because if the waves are high, rescue operations could be difficult and even endanger the lives of the rescuers as well,” he said.

A senior police officer in Dubai urged beachgoers to call the police immediately in case of emergency. People should not go deep into the sea and should avoid swimming in rocky areas or the areas marked with red flags. Many of the beachgoers are not aware of dangerous areas off the beach and go into the sea at an inappropriate time, causing accidents, the officer said.

There’s already a drowning incident regarding this, wherein five people drowned off beaches in Dubai and Sharjah on a single day, while five others narrowly escaped death.

Despite warning from the authorities, residents ventured into the unusually rough seas on Friday.

In Dubai, three people – one Indian and two Sri Lankans – drowned off the Umm Suqeim beach area near the Burj Al Arab, while in Sharjah, the bodies of two men – a 42-year-old Syrian national and a 24-year-old Somali national – were pulled from the sea off Al Hamriya and Al Khan beaches.

Considering the change in the weather, the Dubai Police have intensified police patrolling and deployed more lifeguards.

(Source: FilipinoTimes.ae)