Unprecedented rainfall wreaked havoc in the United Arab Emirates and neighboring countries, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 18 lives in Oman and causing chaos in Dubai with halted air travel. The authorities have warned that the downpour is expected to persist until Wednesday.
Dubai, known for receiving an average of five inches of rain annually, experienced a deluge on Tuesday that matched this yearly total in just one evening.
The National Center of Meteorology in the United Arab Emirates declared this as the most significant rainfall event in 75 years, a milestone announced through official government channels on social media.
Due to the intense storm, flights bound for Dubai International Airport had to be redirected on Tuesday, with operations temporarily suspended for 25 minutes. The airport reported severe flooding on access roads and advised travelers to monitor flight statuses, allocate extra travel time, and utilize the Dubai Metro for smoother transit.
Further rainfall was forecasted overnight across Dubai and the UAE, starting from the western regions and moving eastward, as per the meteorology center.
In Oman, situated to the east of the UAE, a separate rain incident claimed the lives of at least 18 individuals, including schoolchildren caught in a vehicle during the storm. Authorities in Oman issued warnings about impending heavy thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail expected through the night and into Wednesday.
Social media videos depicted planes navigating through flooded runways at Dubai International Airport.
The airport, a hub for Emirates airline, reported over 80 million visitors in 2023 and stands as the world’s second-busiest airport, connecting to 262 destinations in 104 countries through 100 airlines.
Elsewhere in Dubai, the heavy rainfall inundated major highways, prompting drivers to abandon vehicles on the roads, as reported by The Associated Press.
The torrential downpour in Dubai accumulated nearly five inches of rain by Tuesday evening, matching the annual average for the UAE. While rain is infrequent in the arid desert climate of the UAE, sporadic occurrences, especially during winter, are not unheard of.
2024-04-16 19:54:20
Original from www.nytimes.com