Apr 29 2024
Heavy rain in UAE: Residents share videos and images
Wed 17 Apr 2024
Sharjah: Heavy rains pounded the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, causing floods on major roads and leaving cars stranded in Dubai. The city’s massive international airport, Dubai International Airport, briefly stopped all operations due to the storm. Meanwhile, in neighboring Oman, heavy flooding has resulted in 18 reported deaths, with others still missing.
The heavy rains began overnight, creating large pools of water on streets and airport runways. Strong winds worsened the situation, disrupting flights at Dubai International Airport, which is known as the busiest airport for international travel. The airport announced a temporary halt of all operations for about 25 minutes and diverted all incoming flights until the weather improved.
By evening, the UAE had received over 120mm (4.75 inches) of rainfall, which is typically the average for an entire year in the desert nation. More rain was expected in the following hours.
Emergency services navigated the flooded streets with caution, their flashing lights visible amid lightning strikes. Some lightning even touched the top of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.
Schools in the UAE closed in anticipation of the storm, and many government employees worked remotely. Despite warnings, some people ventured out, leading to vehicles getting stuck in deep water on certain roads.
Also read: Rainfall, lightning and thunder expected on Monday-Wednesday in UAE
Authorities deployed tanker trucks to pump out the floodwaters, which entered homes, forcing residents to bail out water with buckets.
Rain is uncommon in the UAE, but when it does occur, the lack of proper drainage worsens flooding, particularly in areas unaccustomed to regular rainfall.
Rain also fell in Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. In Oman, heavy rains have caused significant damage, with at least 18 reported deaths, including schoolchildren swept away in a vehicle on Monday.
Climate experts have long warned about the impacts of human-induced climate change, which is contributing to more frequent and severe weather events worldwide. In southern Russia and Central Asia, heavy rainfall and snowmelt have led to widespread evacuations and fatalities in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Heavy rain UAE is about Heavy rain UAE
