Fire accident causes massive traffic jam in UAE

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Dubai - Drivers urged to be cautious and take alternative routes.

By Afkar Abdullah and Amira Agarib

Published: Mon 26 Nov 2018, 6:00 PM

Last updated: Tue 27 Nov 2018, 1:06 PM

Commuters faced delays on Tuesday morning due to slow traffic caused by accidents on Dubai roads.
A severe fire accident on Al Mamzar Bridge heading in the direction of Bagdad Road was reported on Tuesday at 7:42am by the Dubai Police on their twitter account. The police advised drivers to be cautious and take alternative routes.

#TrafficUpdates | 7:42
A severe fire accident causes traffic jam on Al Mamzer bridge coming from Begdad Rd, be extra cautious & take alternative ways.
- Dubai Police???? ??? (@DubaiPoliceHQ) November 27, 2018

Traffic goes haywire amid heavy rains
As heavy rains lashed the country in the last two days, traffic had gone haywire with several accidents reported across the emirates.
In Dubai alone, 147 accidents were logged within four hours on Monday. The police received 2,566 emergency calls between 6am and 10am.

#News | 147 #traffic accidents reported in #Dubai as rainy weather rages

Details:https://t.co/Zmg1PCz3oE #DubaiPolice #YourSecurityOurHappiness #SmartSecureTogether pic.twitter.com/d9wsgRWkxv
- Dubai Police???? ??? (@DubaiPoliceHQ) November 26, 2018

Colonel Muhammad Al Muhairi, acting director of command and control centre, urged motorists to keep a safe distance between cars and adjust their speed to the weather conditions.
"Allow extra time for your journey and check your planned route. It's also advisable to slow down as rain makes roads slippery," he added.
The Dubai Municipality has dispatched emergency teams across the emirate to work round the clock during the unstable weather. Prepared with equipment and safety tools, the teams were tasked to clear water logging and respond to traffic accidents amidst the downpour, which is expected to continue till Tuesday.
Sharjah and Ajman
In Sharjah, 108 patrols were on duty to ensure motorists' safety.
Lt-Colonel Mohammed Al Allai, director of the traffic department in Sharjah, said the patrols have been deployed since the early hours of the morning to organise traffic and prevent accidents in many waterlogged areas in the emirate.
No major accidents took place due to the heavy rain, except minor collisions that were handled by Rafid, he said. A number of motorists were rescued after their cars broke down and got stuck in the water.

Dear drivers, reduce speed during heavy rain to avoid any hydroplaning.#Weather #YourSecurityOurHappiness #SmartSecureTogether pic.twitter.com/P2gCxWEsIM
- Dubai Police???? ??? (@DubaiPoliceHQ) November 26, 2018

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Thabet Al Taraifi, director-general of the Sharjah Municipality, said that their three mobile stations called Al Sadd were operated to clear roads of rainwater, with each one pumping out about 2 million liters of water in an hour. Al Sadd is the first of its kind in the UAE and the region.
Ajman's emergency teams have also been conducting clearing operations since the first hours of the downpour to address waterlogging.
Abdulrahman Al Nuaimi, director-general of the Ajman Municipality, said a total of 65 pumping machines have been distributed in various parts of the emirate and have been pumping out water under the supervision of department heads and municipality officials.
Tips to keep safe during the unstable weather
>Stay away from valleys and flood-prone areas
>Stay away from the desert
>Drive cautiously as roads tend to be slippery
>Give way to emergency and civic vehicles
>Stay away from the beach
reporters@khaleejtimes.com