After last week's incredible success of the first "NewsShots" on road regulations, I proudly announce to you all our second installment in this edition: Should Weather Warnings Be Taken More Seriously?
Read the news article below, and then answer the question on the bottom right. I look forward to hearing from you all this week!
Storm Drags Fishing Boat to Fearsome Smash With Anchored Dhow
Mansoor Mamnoon, Staff Reporter
Friday, April 15, 2022
Sharjah- Stormy winds rampaged across the United Arab Emirates, causing a loaded fishing boat to barrage head-on into an anchored, empty dhow at the Al Abal quay near Al Quran Roundabout yesterday evening, causing damage worth thousands of dirhams. 2 people are in a state of coma while three others have made a full recovery.
The fishermen had gone out to sea despite receiving repeated warnings from news channels of winds reaching 80 miles per hour at the Arabian Gulf shore. With no luck at sea, the five men decided to return. Buffeted by winds, disaster struck, and the sails on their boat caught hold of an exceptionally-strong gale; Aided by waves reaching up to 5 metres high, they crashed into an empty dhow anchored at the quay, and all five men tumbled into the sea.
Ali Akbar, one of the fishermen, reports, “My friend Mubarriz yelled out incomprehensibly as our boat swerved to a tipping point; The next thing I remember, I was being swept out into the sea, with all our baskets, buckets, nets and ropes entrapping me into an inescapable web.” Ali Akbar also recollects being saved by a group of walkers who quickly resuscitated him before anything serious had lapsed.
Ramanujan, a helper of the fishermen recalls, “I shouted out to the fishermen to return quickly- One of them let go of the steer and the next second, all were engulfed into a watery prison.” Ramanujan reports calling out to surrounding men who helped drag the fishermen out.
Both the fishing boat and the dhow sustained heavy damage. While the fishing boat split into half upon impact and was swept away by the rushing deluge, the dhow endured a gaping hole in its hull and would have been completely submerged into the opportunistic grasp of the rapidly rushing watery grave had it not been for the quick intervention of the passers-by. Reparations will amount to at least AED 10,000, according to an expert in boat-building, who wishes to remain anonymous. The owner of the dhow has yet to be identified although police say the search is well underway.
Inspector Ashfaq Ahmed cautions, “Despite repeated warnings, the fishermen refused to pay heed. The public should be mindful of the safety precautions set out by the National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority. That such behaviour continues to occur is shocking and the matter will be investigated in more detail.” The Inspector also hints at stricter regulations and harsher fines waiting on the side-lines to deter such incidents from occurring again in the future.
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