SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia's civil defence and medical centres carry out out a large-scale fire and rescue operations drill.

Record ID: 189064

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia's civil defence and medical centres carry out out a large-scale fire and rescue operations drill.
  • Date: 13th September 2012
  • Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (SEPTEMBER 11, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SMOKE COMING FROM HOSPITAL TOWERS IN RIYADH SPECIALTY HOSPITAL TOWER WHICH READS IN ARABIC AND ENGLISH 'SPECIALISED MEDICAL CENTER' VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LOOKING AT SMOKE COMING FROM TOWER AND TAKING PICTURES CIVIL DEFENCE TRUCKS ARRIVING TO FIRE SITE VARIOUS OF MEMBERS OF CIVIL DEFENCE RESCUE TEAM CLIMB WITH CRANE TO EVACUATE PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL CREW MEMBER DIRECTING LIGHTS TO HOSPITAL WITH REMOTE CONTROL CIVIL DEFENCE MEMBER RESCUING AND EVACUATING 3 PATIENTS VARIOUS OF FIRE-FIGHTERS RUSHING TO FIGHT FIRE IN HOSPITAL BUILDING CIVIL DEFENCE MEMBERS EVACUATING PATIENTS TO SAFE AREA CIVIL DEFENCE MEMBER GOING DOWN THE ROPE FROM THE HOSPITAL WINDOW MEMBERS OF CHEMICAL SPILL TEAM STAND BY FOR INTERVENE CIVIL DEFENCE MEMBERS EVACUATING MAN CLOSE OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE CREW EVACUATING WOUNDED MAN DIRECTOR GENERAL OF CIVIL DEFENCE IN SAUDI ARABIA OBSERVING THE EVACUATION OPERATION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SA`AD AL TWAIJRI, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF CIVIL DEFENCE IN SAUDI ARABIA, SAYING: "This operation has two goals - the first is how to deal with these incidents (fire in buildings), and how the cooperation between the hospital officials and the civil defence forces work. Moreover, it aims to notify the officials in the organisation about the danger of the event when it happens, there may be a fire in one room which could spread in all the hospital." VARIOUS OF TEAM PREPARING SAFETY AIR CUSHION IN FRONT OF HOSPITAL CIVIL DEFENCE HELICOPTER FLYING OVER BURNING BUILDING VARIOUS OF TRAPPED MEN JUMBLING FROM THE BUILDING OVER THE SAFETY AIR CUSHION HELICOPTER FLYING OVER HOSPITAL MAN JUMPING CIVIL DEFENCE TEAM RECEIVING MEN JUMPING FROM BUILDING PEOPLE GATHERING AND WATCHING EVACUATION OPERATION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MINA JAMAL, EGYPTIAN ,WORKING AND LIVING IN RIYADH SAYING: "We all felt reassured because there are trained people who can defend the region if , God forbid, something bad happens or fire erupts, especially in such medical places, as it is difficult for patients to move easily. But the presence of such trained people (civil defence) and modern mechanisms is something very good and can protect the area and give a feeling of security for all the people." CIVIL DEFENCE VEHICLE AND HELICOPTER AT SITE CLOSE OF HELICOPTER FLYING PEOPLE WATCHING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DR.KHALID AL-SUBAI`AI, GENERAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL IN RIYADH, SAYING: "This is not the first experiment. The second one was done about 3 years ago in the same way. We are trying to keep coordination between the relevant authorities to make sure that we are always ready for evacuation and air evacuation during any emergencies in the hospitals, especially that the majority of cases (patients) in hospitals are in need of help." CIVIL DEFENCE HELICOPTER LEAVING AREA
  • Embargoed: 28th September 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAAT925QM23YI8QERQGOAUO3Q8O
  • Story Text: Saudi emergency services on Tuesday (September 11) conducted a large-scale drill to test their capacity on handling emergencies using fire engines and a helicopter.
    Riyadh maintains that the drill is routine, but it's taking place at time when tensions are rising in the region with Iran and the discovery of an alleged al Qaeda plot.
    Hundreds of people watched the drill where emergency officials staged a mock fire on a busy highway near a hospital in Riyadh.
    As machine-produced smoke billowed from high windows in the towering building, firemen used crane-mounted lifts to rescue would-be patients and deliver them to waiting ambulances.

    "This operation has two goals, the first is how to deal with these incidents (fire in buildings), and how the cooperation between the hospital officials and the civil defence forces work. Moreover, it aims to notify the officials in the organisation about the danger of the event when it happens, there may be a fire in one room which could spread in all the hospital," said Sa'ad al- Twaijri, Director General of Civil Defence in Saudi Arabia.
    Nearly 20 different services took part in the exercise, including police, security forces, traffic police, the fire service and health authorities.
    Helicopters circled overhead throughout the evening helping to direct the mock rescue effort, while men in chemical-protective suits and gas masks stood by to fight any possible toxic leaks.

    "We've rescued some people by the stairs," said a voice heard coming from a fireman's radio as colleagues searched the building for survivors.
    The large crowd of curious passers- watched as the firemen placed a large air bag at the foot of the building and people leapt safely onto it from a high balcony.

    "We all felt reassured because there are trained people who can defend the region if , God forbid, something bad happens or fire erupts, especially in such medical places, as it is difficult for patients to move easily. But the presence of such trained people (civil defence) and modern mechanisms is something very good and can protect the area and give a feeling of security for all the people," said Mina Jamal, an Egyptian worker living in Riyadh.
    The cooperation between the Civil Defense and the medical centres in Riyadh is also supported by the Saudi government to help improve evacuation operations by peaceful means.

    "This is not the first experiment, the second one was done about 3 years ago in the same way. We are trying to keep coordination between the relevant authorities to make sure that we are always ready for evacuation and air evacuation during any emergencies in the hospitals, especially that the majority of cases (patients) in hospitals are in need of help," said Dr. Khalid al-Subaiai, the General Executive Director of the Specilaised Hospital in Riyadh.
    A series of U.S. embassy cables released by WikiLeaks repeatedly cited the deputy minister and security chief Prince Mohammed bin Nayef discussing the danger of a militant assault and seeking advice on how to test their rescue capacity.
    However, officials did not link the drill to political threats facing the world's top oil exporter but the Interior Ministry, which ran the event, is responsible for maintaining security and closely monitors the possibility of attacks.
    An official U.S. assessment in an August 2008 cable said: "(The ministry) is deeply concerned about possible attacks on (infrastructure and oil) facilities by al Qaeda or other terrorist networks, whether domestic or international, or by hostile neighbours, particularly Iran."
    Last month, Saudi Arabia arrested eight men accused of forming an al Qaeda cell and plotting an attack.
    Saudi Arabia crushed an campaign by the militant group in 2006 that had targeted foreigners and the government with shootings and bombings.
    END
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