The General Directorate of Civil Defense in Saudi Arabia has issued an emergency guideline for all citizens and expatriates. The order comes after a military attack in the Al-Kharj area on Sunday, in which two people were killed and 12 were injured. The government has given strict instructions that as soon as an emergency alert is received on the phone through the National Early Warning Platform, people should immediately move to a safe place. An Indian citizen is also reported injured in this incident, which has been confirmed by the Indian Embassy.
What to do after getting alert on phone
Civil Defense has set some strict rules on receiving emergency messages, which are mandatory for everyone to follow.
Go to a safe place: As soon as you receive the message, go to a safe room inside the building which is away from windows.
Don’t go out: Stay indoors until the government declares that everything is safe.
Stay away from these places: Avoid standing on balconies, terraces and open grounds. Stay away from glass buildings also.
Driving rules: If you are driving, stop immediately on the side of the road. Do not park your vehicle near bridges, tall buildings and electrical wires.
Do not crowd: It is completely prohibited to create a crowd at the incident site or make any kind of photo or video.
Strict action will be taken if rules are broken
The government has clearly said that this alert system is absolutely free for all mobile users. People will have to go to their phone’s settings and keep Government Alerts or Wireless Emergency Alerts on. If a person does not follow civil defense orders during an emergency, he may have to pay a heavy fine and may even be jailed under the Saudi Emergency Law. Companies violating the rules can also be closed immediately.
If anyone needs help, they can call 911 in Riyadh, Mecca, Medina and eastern areas. For all other places number 998 has been issued. In view of the situation, officials have advised people to keep ration, drinking water and essential medicines for a few days with them.