Emergency drill staged at Dubai Metro station

Exercise staged last Friday at Rashidiya station was to test disaster response

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DUBAI // The flurry of emergency vehicles around Rashidiya Metro station last weekend was part of a disaster-preparation drill organised by the emirate's Crisis Management Team (CMT).
The exercise followed a workshop two days earlier to exchange ideas and experiences between the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Police, Civil Defence, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority and Dubai Ambulance Services.
The CMT then arranged a scenario in which a vehicle had crashed into a Metro support pillar at Rashidiya station.
The drill, between 1am and 4am on Friday, was carried out with the cooperation of Serco, the Metro operator.
"To prevent human casualties first and material losses second, it is imperative that we have a speedy response time, investing every minute possible to contain, control and resolve any crisis," said Ahmed Hashim Bahrozyan, the CMT chairman and chief executive of the RTA's licensing agency.
"No single entity can solely carry out such a demanding task as it requires coordination with the concerned official entities and teamwork to ensure the safety of our homeland."
Mr Bahrozyan said exchange of information was vital in predicting potential crises and limiting risks.
"Decision-makers must have all the information available to them to be able to make the correct choices," he said. "It is also important to carry out realistic practice scenarios where the team can gain valuable experience and data, as well as test out best practices in such situations."

malkhan@thenational.ae