What began as a routine road trip turned into a frightening ordeal for a Bahraini man who lost his car and possessions to sudden flooding, but survived thanks to a timely rescue.
Abdulla Al Hayki, a 33-year-old sculptor and painter, accompanied by his 10-year-old son Mehdi and an Omani friend, was travelling to Oman for holiday by car, a trip that many Bahrainis have done in the past.
Unfortunately, due to some inclement weather conditions, what started off as a dream holiday almost turned into a tragic nightmare.
Speaking to the GDN, Mr Al Hayki recounted the frightening experience, stating that he is just thankful to be alive after the terrible ordeal.
“We entered Oman through the Rub’ Al Khali border crossing (Empty Quarter border) which links Saudi’s Eastern Province and Oman’s Ibri region,” he said.
“After a short drive into country, we came across a torrential wadi in front of us.
“We hesitated to cross and asked a police officer whether it was possible to drive through or too dangerous to proceed.
“He reassured us and told us that the situation was better than it was a while back and that the water was much lighter.
“Apparently, a few people had managed to cross that day before we arrived, so we went ahead with caution.”
Heavy ongoing rains in late March have caused dangerous torrential wadis and flash floods across Oman, including in Salalah, Wadi Bani Khalid and the Musandam region.
For the uninitiated, a wadi is a ravine or stream bed that remains dry except during rainy seasons when it may form a temporary and dangerous watercourse.
These sudden surges, driven by a persistent weather depression, have led to severe flooding, more than 10 deaths, and numerous vehicle rescues, with authorities issuing urgent warnings to avoid low-lying areas.
While at the time, it was deemed safe for Mr Al Hayki to drive through, the weather conditions suddenly took a turn for the worse and the trio found themselves in a precarious situation.
“The water started rising quickly, and to make things worse, the car suddenly stopped,” he said. “At that moment, we had no choice but to climb out through the windows and get on top of the car.
“We called the emergency services, and in less than half an hour, the Omani Civil Defence, ambulance and rescue teams arrived.
“They did everything they could to reach us despite the strength of the current, risking their lives to get to us to safety.
“We were provided with life jackets, secured with ropes and the rescue operation began. They took us one-by-one until we all made it out safely.
“The car was completely submerged at the end, with all our belongings inside, but thank God, we escaped with our lives.”
Mr Al Hayki said that despite the scary situation, he felt, what he described as, an ‘extraordinary sense of calm’. He said that there was no fear within him, and instead, he felt certainty, tranquility and faith that the Omani authorities would rescue them in time.
“I thank the authorities of Oman and appreciate them for saving our lives, for their swift response and great courage in handling the situation,” Mr Al Hayki said. “What we witnessed in terms of professionalism and dedication reflects a truly commendable level of readiness and humanity.
“We will never forget those moments when the rescue personnel risked their lives to save us with such care and attention. May God bless them for their good deeds, and may He protect Oman, its leadership and its people.”
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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