Muscat: The Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) has said that the National Search and Rescue Team played a major role in reporting incidents in the aftermath of the tropical cyclone Shaheen. It helped to trace many cases of missing people and removed fallen trees that blocked roads and hampered traffic.
The team participated in the distribution of essential supplies to citizens and residents in stricken areas.
The CDAA set up camp in the Wilayat of Al Suwaiq to facilitate the mission of the National Search and Rescue Team in the Governorate of North Al Batinah.
From its provision centre there, the team coordinated the efforts of various teams that responded to emergency reports. The centre comprised a variety of human resources, specialised teams and equipment mobilised to handle distress calls and humanitarian cases.
The CDAA pointed out that the National Search and Rescue Team operates in accordance with a clear-cut mechanism in addressing consequences of climatic conditions, notably by categorising affected areas to facilitate the delivery of emergency services.
The National Search and Rescue Team has received international accreditation from the International Search and Rescue Group (INSARAG).
The national team is specialised in operations covering urban, mountainous and aquatic environments. Its groups of engineers, technicians and physicians command top skills and mobile search utilities (including K9), sniffer dogs, drones and other search and rescue equipment.
As part of its international missions, the National Search and Rescue Team participated in operations in the devastating Nepal Earthquake in 2015.
