THE HIDDEN DANGER IN WADIS

The Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) has issued a renewed warning against swimming in unsafe and undesignated water bodies, stressing that negligence around ponds, wadis, and open water sites is now contributing to a worrying rise in drowning incidents.
The advisory follows a recent case in Al Rustaq, where two individuals narrowly escaped death after being pulled from a pond in Wadi Al Hoqain. Both are currently receiving intensive care at Al Rustaq Hospital after being rescued in critical condition.
A CDAA official noted that drowning incidents tend to surge during summer months, when families and groups seek out natural water spots for recreation.
“Drowning incidents are on the surge at water ponds, especially during the summer season when people explore water bodies to spend time with family and friends,” the official said. “Dangers arise when individuals misjudge the depth of ponds, ignore warning signs, or enter unmanned water bodies. Such actions lead to legal consequences, as they constitute negligence of safety measures.”
Authorities and health data indicate that drowning remains a significant public safety concern in Oman, with hundreds of cases reported annually, including fatalities. Incidents typically spike during summer and the rainy season, driven by unsupervised swimming, flash floods in wadis, and attempts to swim in undesignated or hazardous areas.
Recent CDAA figures point to a sharp increase in drowning-related incidents, rising to 639 cases in a single year, compared to 166 the previous year. Paediatric emergency data from Ministry of Health hospitals further shows that children, particularly boys under the age of six, account for a significant proportion of hospital admissions related to drowning, often in pools and residential water facilities.
According to officials, many of the most severe cases occur when individuals venture into wadis or natural streams during or after rainfall, when water flow can be deceptively strong and unpredictable. Lack of supervision, limited swimming ability and disregard for warning signs continue to be key contributing factors.
“People tend to ignore warning signs, and this ignorance is a major reason behind frequent fatalities,” the CDAA official added. “Failing to follow safety regulations — such as crossing flooded wadis, swimming in dangerous coastal areas, or open water tanks — is a serious risk and can amount to legal violations.”
The CDAA and health authorities continue to urge the public to prioritise water safety through clear preventive measures, including active supervision of children near water, avoiding undesignated swimming areas, ensuring proper safety barriers around pools, and learning basic CPR and water rescue skills.
Officials also advise residents to closely monitor updates from the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority and official media channels for weather alerts, particularly during unstable weather conditions.