Two UAE nationals among victims of hiking incident in Oman

Rashid Al Nuaimi, Staff Reporter

The unfortunate series of events that befell a 16-member multinational hiking team in Oman, resulting in the demise of four climbers and injuries to others, revealed that among the victims were two Emiratis, Khalid Al Mansouri and Salem Al Jarraf. They perished after being trapped with their colleagues in a narrow valley that was flooded with rainwater following an unexpected downpour during the expedition.

Khalid Yousef Al Mansouri was a former UAE handball player and javelin champion, while Salem Mohammed Al Jarraf was an avid enthusiast of adventure sports who had participated on numerous occasions with teams in the Sultanate of Oman.

Funeral prayers were conducted in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah following the arrival of the deceased's bodies from Oman.

 Wadi Qasha'a, the site of the incident, is one of the locations that attracts adventurers due to its deep canyons and narrow paths.

On Saturday, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) said a 16-member multinational hiking team in the Sultanate of Oman met a tragic end on Friday as a result of inclement weather. A torrential downpour swept away five climbers, four of whom perished, while the rest sustained varying degrees of injury.

The victims of the incident were transported by police aircraft to Nizwa Hospital. This was after the group faced heavy rain in Wadi Tanouf in Nizwa governorate. Owing to this, an Omani citizen and three other Arab nationals died, while another sustained serious injuries, the ROP added.

 The tricky terrain which was flooded after torrential rain.