Dubai: Massive floods cause chaos

As the streets of Dubai are submerged in floodwater, Dubai International Airport halts flights and arrivals due to the largest rainfall ever recorded, reports Euronews and AFP.

The rainfall in the desert nation began late on the 15th, soaking the sands and roadways with some 20 millimeters (0.79 inches) of rain, according to meteorological data collected at Dubai International Airport.

The storms intensified on the 16th as more rain and hail flooded across the overwhelmed city. By the end of the 16th, more than 142 millimeters (5.59 inches) of rainfall had devastated Dubai over a period of 24 hours, disrupting travel through the world’s busiest airfield for international travel. 

The state-run WAM news agency called the rain a “historic weather event” that surpassed “anything documented since the start of data collection in 1949.”

As aircraft landed at the airport, standing water lapped on taxiways. On the night of the 16th, arrivals were halted as passengers struggled to reach terminals through the floodwater covering surrounding roads.

Dubai International Airport noted on the 17th that the flooding had left “limited transportation options” and affected flights as aircraft crews couldn’t reach the airfield.

One couple who were stranded at the airport spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. They called the situation at the airport “absolute carnage”.

“you cannot get a taxi. There’s people sleeping in the Metro station. Theres people sleeping in the airport,” the man stressed.

READ: Libya: floods lead to state of panic and a state of emergency 

Emirates stated that check-in for passengers departing from Dubai Airport was halted on the morning of the 17th as it tried to clear the airport of transit passengers.

“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused” the airline posted to X. “recovery will take some time” the post added, saying that “Emirates is working hard to restore our scheduled operations.”

Paul Griffiths, the airport’s CEO stated some aircraft had been diverted to Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, the city-state’s second airfield.

“It remains an incredibly challenging time. In living memory, I don’t think anyone has ever seen conditions like it,” Griffiths told the state-owned talk radio station Dubai Eye. “We are in uncharted territory, but I can assure everyone we are working as hard as we possibly can to make sure our customers and staff are looked after.”

In preparation for the storm, Schools across the UAE and a federation of seven sheikhdoms shut down. Government employees were instructed to work from home if able, however, some still ventured out, unfortunately stalling their vehicles on the waterlogged roads. 

As streets continued flooding, panic began rising as civilians struggled to keep the water out of their homes. Authorities sent tanker trucks out onto the streets and highways to pump away the water poured into some homes. 

As people were forced out of their homes, some slept in their flooded vehicles on the night of the 16th. In Ras al-Khaimah, the country’s northernmost emirate, police said that one 70-year-old man had died when his vehicle was swept away by floodwater.

READ: Algeria: Flooding kills eight swept away in vehicles 

Rain also fell in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. However, the rains were acute across the UAE. One reason may have been “cloud seeding,” in which small planes flown by the government go through clouds burning special salt flares. Those flares can increase precipitation.

Heavy rainfall is unusual in the UAE, which usually relies on energy-hungry desolation plants to provide water. Many roads and other areas lack drainage given the lack of regular rainfall, causing flooding. 

Meanwhile in neighbouring Oman, a sultanate that rests on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, at least 19 people were killed in heavy rains in recent days, according to a statement 17th from the country’s National Committee for Emergency Management. That includes some 10 schoolchildren swept away in a vehicle with an adult, which saw condolences come into the country from rulers across the region.

Euronews and AFP.