No weather-related casualties reported;affected families

No casualties or losses have been reported following the unstable weather conditions that have hit parts of the UAE over the past 24 hours, including heavy rains over some emirates and cities, said the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) in a statement today.

A surface depression has inflicted heavy rains over the past 24 hours in the emirate of Fujairah and the City of Al Ain as well as Kalba and Khorfakkan in Sharjah and led to running valleys and flooding of some houses.

Up to 167 UAE nationals from Kalba have been sheltered at a hotel in Fujairah in addition to vacating and sheltering 558 people from 28 families in Fujairah, while checking 24 households from Al Ain in a hotel in the city, NCEMA explained.

"The Authority is liaising with all authorities concerned, including police and municipalities, to manage the current stormy weather and its efforts have contributed to reducing the aftermath of the situation," said the statement.

"Meetings have been held over the past days with all relevant departments after forecasts of unstable weather have been received through the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology on an expected surface depression that may inflict torrential rains, as a result of which people have been advised to stay clear away from running valleys. Since last night until now the emergency teams have been making tireless efforts to manage the situation in the affected areas and mobilised all resources needed to avert all potential dangers, including rains, and piled waters in low territories, high ways and residential areas," added the statement.

All efforts have been made to withdraw piled water from the areas and roundabouts which received heavy rains across Al Ain Region and Al Dhafra Region, said the statement, adding that electricity has been cut off some houses pending withdrawal of piles of water mechanically.

"All resources have been mobilised to deal with any consequences to result from the unstable climatic conditions," concluded the statement, expressing appreciation for all state departments concerned, as well UAE people and residents who have contributed to NCEMA's efforts to avoid any dire sequels of the depressione, which is expected to gradually decline in intensity by Monday afternoon.

In the meantime, the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Team has affirmed that it has been closely liaising with all statement departments concerned over the developments of the depression currently hitting the country to avert any potential consequences as a result of the rainfalls.

Different parts of the emirate of Abu Dhabi, including Al Rahba, have witnessed scattered heavy to light showers of rains without any damage or casualties reported.

The team has noted that heavy rainfall has flooded some houses, which necessitated vacating around 140 persons from 24 families, who have all been decently accommodated in collaboration with all state departments concerned, including the Emirates Red Crescent, Al Ain Police, Civil Defence Department of Al Ain and Al Ain Distribution Company.

Work is still at full tilt with all strategic departments and national authorities concerned to ensure full preparedness for the weather fluctuations in close collaboration with the Centre of Meteorology and Seismology which forecasts the depression to decline in intensity by Monday afternoon