Visuals From Heavy Rain In Dubai Causes flash floods; Schools & College Shut 19 Death

Updated: Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 00:49 AM by
Visuals From Heavy Rain In Dubai Causes flash floods; Schools & College Shut 19 Death

Heavy rains lashed the United Arab Emirates (UAE), causing flash floods in Dubai. These atypical downpours flooded portions of major highways, leaving vehicles stranded on roadways across the city. Even the Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest for international travel, was briefly paralyzed due to the intense storm. Operations were halted for about 25 minutes, and all arrivals were diverted until the weather conditions improved. 

 

By evening, more than 4.75 inches of rainfall had soaked the UAE—typical for an entire year in this desert nation. Police and emergency personnel navigated the flooded streets, their emergency lights flashing as lightning bolts streaked across the sky, occasionally touching the tip of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. Schools shut down ahead of the storm, and government employees worked remotely where possible. 

 

Authorities dispatched tanker trucks to pump away floodwaters that poured into homes, forcing residents to bail out using buckets and pails. Rain is unusual in the UAE, but it occurs periodically during the cooler winter months. The lack of regular rainfall and drainage exacerbates flooding in many areas. Meanwhile, neighboring Oman faced heavy flooding, with a death toll of 18 and others still missing. Climatologists warn that human-driven climate change fuels more extreme and less predictable weather events globally.