Heavy rains have battered the United Arab Emirates, flooding major highways and disrupting flights at Dubai International Airport in what the government called a ” maximum rainfall over the past 75 years.
At least one person was killed when a 70-year-old man was swept away from his car in Ras Al Khaimah, one of the country’s seven emirates, police said.
Rainfall began on Monday night and by Tuesday evening the desert city of Dubai had received more than 142 millimeters (5.59 inches) of rain – usually the average rainfall for a year and a half.
With an average annual rainfall of 94.7 millimeters (3.73 inches), Dubai International Airport is the world’s busiest international travel destination and a hub for long-haul airline Emirates.
As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, more than 80 millimeters (3.2 inches) of rain fell in parts of the UAE’s interior in the 24 hours to 8 a.m. Tuesday, close to the annual average of about 100 millimeters. Rainfall is infrequent in the UAE on the arid Arabian Peninsula, but occurs regularly during the cold winter months.
Houses across Dubai were flooded, vehicles were abandoned on the roads, and authorities sent tankers to the streets to pump water. Due to the lack of regular rainfall, many roads and other areas lack drainage systems.
Flagship shopping malls Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates were hit by flooding, with at least one Dubai Metro station ankle-deep in water, according to pictures posted on social media.
Lightning flashes across the sky, occasionally touching the top of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.
In a post on
United Arab Emirates Government Media Office Posted on their X account The downpour was an “exceptional” climate event. More rainfall is expected.
3D radar image of cloud movement#rain #Rain_of_Goodness #National Meteorological Center
3D radar image of cloud formations in the area
#rain#National Meteorological Center pic.twitter.com/NBYkFL1Gsn– National Meteorological Center (@ncmuae) April 16, 2024
Schools are closed across the UAE and are expected to remain closed on Wednesday. The Dubai government also extended the period for employees to work remotely until Wednesday.
Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest airport for international travel, also diverted some inbound flights on Tuesday.
Earlier, a weather system caused flooding across Bahrain and killed 18 people in Oman on Sunday and Monday, AFP reported.
Oman and the United Arab Emirates, which hosted the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference last year, have previously warned that global warming could lead to more flooding.
The Associated Press and AFP contributed to this report
