Dubai Roads, Airport Reel From Floods After Record Rains
Faizan Hashmi Published April 17, 2024 | 08:10 PM
Dubai's giant highways were clogged by flooding and its major airport was in chaos as the Middle East financial centre remained gridlocked on Wednesday, a day after the heaviest rains on record
Dubai, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Apr, 2024) Dubai's giant highways were clogged by flooding and its major airport was in chaos as the Middle East financial centre remained gridlocked on Wednesday, a day after the heaviest rains on record.
Tailbacks snaked along waterlogged, six-lane expressways after up to 259.5 millimetres (10.2 inches) of rain, the most since records began 75 years ago, fell on the desert United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.
At least one person was killed after a 70-year-old man was swept away in his car in Ras Al-Khaimah, one of the oil-rich country's seven emirates, police said.
Power outages were reported around Dubai, which was dotted with flooded areas and submerged and abandoned cars. One road tunnel near the airport was completely flooded to a depth of several metres (yards).
As sunny skies returned on Wednesday, a day after torrential downpours and rolling black clouds, stories emerged of residents stuck in cars and offices overnight.
"It was one of the most horrific situations I had ever experienced, because I knew that if my car broke down, it would sink and I would drown with it," said one worker in his 30s, who did not want to give his name, after his 15-minute commute had turned into a 12-hour saga on flooded roads.
"I was very afraid," he added.
Schools will remain closed in Dubai until next week, authorities said, underscoring the difficulty of the clean-up.
One householder, also requesting anonymity, said he made a small detour on his way home on Tuesday to buy McDonald's for his children, only to get stuck in traffic and finally arrive -- empty-handed -- six hours later.
"I can understand that the country can't deal with rain on this scale, but the lack of transparency and real-time information is disappointing," he said.
- 'Chaos' -
Passengers were warned not to come to Dubai airport, the world's busiest by international traffic, "unless absolutely necessary", an official said.
"Flights continue to be delayed and diverted," a Dubai Airports spokesperson said, calling working conditions "very challenging".
Dubai's flagship Emirates airline cancelled all check-ins as staff and passengers struggled to arrive and leave, with access roads flooded and some metro services suspended.
At the airport, long taxi queues formed and passengers milled around, many growing increasingly frustrated as nearly every departure was repeatedly delayed.
"They are completely lost, its complete chaos -- no information, nothing," fumed one passenger, who did not want to be named, after a 12-hour wait.
Meanwhile, a large crowd gathered at a connections desk, clapping and whistling in protest at the lack of information. Scores of flights were also delayed, cancelled and diverted during Tuesday's torrential rain.
The storms hit the UAE and Bahrain overnight Monday and on Tuesday, after lashing Oman, where 18 people were killed including children.
Climatologist Friederike Otto, a specialist in assessing the role of climate change on extreme weather events, told AFP it was "highly likely" that global warming had worsened the storms.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
NAB withdraws LNG reference against Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
Mohsin Naqvi to visit Karachi today
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 30 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 30 April 2024
Wembanyama in France: NBA Spurs to play Pacers in Paris in January
Russian missile kills two in Ukraine's Odesa: governor
Dutch Embassy celebrates King Willem-Alexander's birthday
Need of concrete steps stressed for safe, nutritious milk availability
Scotland's leader Yousaf quits after a year
Services of GDA Pakistan China Friendship Hospital launched
Mining giants Vale, BHP propose $25 bn settlement over Brazil dam collapse
Georgia ruling party stages mass rally to counter protests
More Stories From World
-
Thunder seal Pelicans sweep to advance as Celtics on brink
24 seconds ago -
Over 120,000 foreign tourists visit Mongolia so far this year
30 seconds ago -
China's factory activity grows for second straight month
1 hour ago -
US, Mexico withdraw joint bid for 2027 Women's World Cup: official
2 hours ago -
Dying salmon trouble Norway's vast fish-farm industry
2 hours ago -
Lewandowski treble fires Barca to Valencia win
2 hours ago
-
Terzic repays Dortmund faith before PSG semi-final clash
2 hours ago -
Nuggets oust Lakers, LeBron in thriller as Thunder seal sweep
2 hours ago -
Gunman kills six in attack on Afghan mosque: govt spokesman
2 hours ago -
At least 25 dead in Peru after bus plunges into ravine
2 hours ago -
New post-Brexit controls: a thorn for UK horticulture
2 hours ago -
Microsoft CEO pledges $1.7 bn AI, cloud investment in Indonesia
2 hours ago