Dubai floods caused around $1 billion worth of damage

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The Dubai floods caused by heavy rain that started on Monday (15th April, 2024), caused and estimated amount of $1billion worth of damage. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was submerged in heavy floods as the city faced the worst thunderstorm in 75 years. More than one and a half year’s of rain was dumped into the city-state in just a few years. As a result, major highways, and the international airport were flooded.

dubai streets flooded
Main streets in Dubai flooded by heavy rain. [Image via X]

Approximately 20mm (0.79 inches) of rain fell on Dubai’s roads and beaches during the late hours of Monday, according to meteorological data gathered at Dubai International Airport. Tuesday began with storms that got stronger at 9 a.m. (05:00 GMT) and persisted all day, pouring additional rain and hail on the already overburdened metropolis.

More than 142mm (5.59 inches) had saturated Dubai by Tuesday’s evening. At Dubai International Airport, the busiest international airport in the world and home to long-haul airline Emirates, there is an average of 94.7mm (3.73 inches) of rainfall annually.

Water from pools swept over taxiways at the airport during aircraft landings. Arrivals were eventually stopped by the airport on Tuesday night, and travelers had a difficult time getting to terminals since the surrounding roads were flooded.

Due to the inability of aircraft crews to access the airfield, Dubai International Airport confirmed on Wednesday morning that there were “limited transportation options” and that this had an impact on flights.

An image of Dubai international airport flooded due to heavy rain.

Due to operational difficulties brought on by the constant rain, Emirates announced that it would be stopping passenger check-in at Dubai International on Wednesday from 8 a.m. until midnight.

On social media platform X, the airport stated, “Recovery will take some time.” “We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work through these difficulties.”

With their emergency lights blazing on the nighttime highways, police and emergency personnel cautiously navigated Dubai’s flooded streets.

Heavy thunderstorm in Dubai. The Burj Khalifa was seen being touched by lightning. [Image via X]

The Burj Khalifa, the highest structure in the world, was occasionally touched by lightning as it flashed across the sky. Flooding and other interruptions were also experienced by the city’s driverless Metro network.

Which part saw the heaviest rainfall

The UAE’s easternmost emirate, Fujairah, saw the most rain on Tuesday, with 145mm (5.7 inches) dropping there. On Wednesday, the government reinstated remote work and the authorities canceled classes.

Before the storm, most government personnel in the federation of seven sheikhdoms known as the United Arab Emirates worked remotely. While some workers did venture outside, many chose to stay inside as well. Those who did so were unfortunate enough to find themselves stranded in deeper-than-expected water after the water caused their vehicles’ engines to fail.

Tanker trucks were dispatched by the authorities to remove the water from the streets and highways; nonetheless, several homes were flooded, necessitating the occupants to rescue them.

Any loss of life caused by Dubai floods?

The nation provided no details regarding the total amount of damage. One 70-year-old man perished in Ras al-Khaimah, the northernmost emirate of the nation, according to authorities, after his car washed away by floodwaters.

Lack of drainage

In the UAE, a desert country on the Arabian Peninsula, rain is uncommon, but it does happen occasionally in the colder winter months. Due to little rainfall, many roads and other locations lack proper drainage, which results in floods.

Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia all experienced rain.

At least eighteen people have died in torrential rains over the past several days in neighboring Oman, a sultanate situated on the eastern border of the Arabian Peninsula, according to the National Committee for Emergency Management of the nation. Ten students who were carried away in a car with an adult were among the dead.

Region-wide rulers offered their condolences.

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