DUBAI, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in Ras Al Khaimah, a northern emirate of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), announced Saturday the immediate closure of all public beaches, citing public safety concerns.
According to local media reports, the emirate's Public Services Department, in coordination with Ras Al Khaimah Police General Headquarters, issued the directive through their official social media accounts.
In a joint statement, the authorities urged residents and visitors to stay away from coastal areas and strictly follow official safety instructions, without announcing the reopening date of the closed beaches.
The closure comes amid precautionary measures taken by other northern emirates following an oil spill from a tanker off the northern UAE coast.
Umm Al Quwain has temporarily closed all its beaches and coastal areas after the spill affected its shoreline, while neighboring Sharjah has closed Al Hamriyah Beach as a precautionary measure. ■
