DUBAI // It was a chaotic scene: a military plane had crashed into four houses, killing four people and injuring 27.
Officials said a Ukrainian pilot had lost control of his plane; he ejected and parachuted to safety, but his plane landed in a populated area, its fuel load erupting into a fireball.
Rescue teams rushed to the devastated neighbourhood to control the fire and treat the wounded, who were scattered across the landscape. The rescuers hesitated for only a few seconds before rushing in, as specialists checked to ensure there were no hazardous chemicals, biological contaminants or radiation at the site.
But the destruction witnessed yesterday was not real.
The exercise for Dubai police, civil defence, ambulance services, the Rashid Hospital trauma centre, Dubai civil aviation and the armed forces was designed to prepare authorities in advance of the Dubai Airshow on November 13.
About 200 responders participated in the drill, which began about 11am and lasted for an hour and a half.
"The exercise is similar to a real incident, but the risk here could go up to 60 per cent, while the risk in reality is 100 per cent," said Maj Yousef Rashid, incident commander for civil defence.
The exercise was held in a remote area, behind the Dubai Cultural Sports Club and between Al Aweer and Al Ruwayah. The "victims" were police officers and a few dummies, and the fuel-driven fire was simply tyres that had been ignited.
Just as in a real crash, the first step in the response was sealing off the crash site with riot police to prevent any unauthorised people from entering.
Then the area was divided into three zones: hot, warm and cold. In the hot zone, closest to the fire, only firefighters and rescuers were allowed. In the other two zones, paramedics and other co-ordinators are allowed to work.
Firefighters rushed through the smoke and hosed down the tyres, while rescue teams of police and paramedics transferred "victims", each with a specific, fake injury and torn clothing, to safety.
Three rescue helicopters landed nearby to transfer the most seriously injured to the Rashid trauma centre.
"The main purpose of this drill is to measure the response time and to evaluate coordination ability between the different teams. Communications in such a situation are the most vital thing," said Brig Anas Al Matroushi, director of rescue and transportation of the Dubai Police operations room, who was commanding the rescue response. "In major accidents, all the concerned parties get connected to the same radio frequency, and all directions are made centrally by the Dubai Police chief, who is the main commander."
A mobile hospital, to provide high-level treatment at the scene, was present, as were lighting trucks, a refrigerated morgue truck and several specialised cranes.
Dubai Police had four rescue patrols, with 16 rescuers, participating in the exercise. Twenty-two firefighters, 13 ambulances and 36 paramedics were also involved, alongside crowd control police officers and civil aviation staff.
"The most important thing in the rescue operation is the coordination," said Khalifa Khalifa Al Drai, the executive director of the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services.
Yesterday paramedics "treated" five serious injuries, while the rest of those "hurt" suffered minor to moderate injuries.
But for some paramedics, the job became real as two police officers and a firefighter passed out and were treated for heat exhaustion.
"This is one of our main battles, the sun and heat, we always have to think of it and have extra paramedics, and we also need to think of the fluid supplies to men at work," Brig Al Matroushi said.
A meeting to review the exercise is scheduled for next Thursday. All the bodies involved will discuss the shortfalls and ways to eliminate them, officials said.
wissa@thenational.ae
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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Scorebox
Dubai Hurricanes 31 Dubai Sports City Eagles 22
Hurricanes
Tries: Finck, Powell, Jordan, Roderick, Heathcote
Cons: Tredray 2, Powell
Eagles
Tries: O’Driscoll 2, Ives
Cons: Carey 2
Pens: Carey
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How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Can NRIs vote in the election?
Indians residing overseas cannot cast their ballot abroad
Non-resident Indians or NRIs can vote only by going to a polling booth in their home constituency
There are about 3.1 million NRIs living overseas
Indians have urged political parties to extend the right to vote to citizens residing overseas
A committee of the Election Commission of India approved of proxy voting for non-resident Indians
Proxy voting means that a person can authorise someone residing in the same polling booth area to cast a vote on his behalf.
This option is currently available for the armed forces, police and government officials posted outside India
A bill was passed in the lower house of India’s parliament or the Lok Sabha to extend proxy voting to non-resident Indians
However, this did not come before the upper house or Rajya Sabha and has lapsed
The issue of NRI voting draws a huge amount of interest in India and overseas
Over the past few months, Indians have received messages on mobile phones and on social media claiming that NRIs can cast their votes online
The Election Commission of India then clarified that NRIs could not vote online
The Election Commission lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police asking it to clamp down on the people spreading misinformation
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
'Ashkal'
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The bio:
Favourite film:
Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Favourite holiday destination:
Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.
Heidi: Australia but my dream destination would be to go to Cuba.
Favourite pastime:
Declan: I love brunching and socializing. Just basically having the craic.
Heidi: Paddleboarding and swimming.
Personal motto:
Declan: Take chances.
Heidi: Live, love, laugh and have no regrets.
How%20champions%20are%20made
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now