IN IMAGES, IN PICTURES. Torrential rains paralyze Dubai and plunge the United Arab Emirates into chaos

Several Gulf countries have been affected by torrential rains since Sunday. Several towns in the region, unprepared to deal with such precipitation, found themselves paralyzed by floods.

Heavy rains have hit the United Arab Emirates and its economic capital, Dubai, since Sunday April 14. Huge queues formed on Tuesday on six-lane highways, some sections of which were submerged, as the desert country recorded 254 millimeters of rain in one day, the equivalent of almost two years of precipitation. These rains are the largest ever recorded by this Gulf state since records began in 1949, according to the authorities.

In Dubai, where the infrastructure is not designed to absorb as much water, many roads were flooded, as well as supermarkets and even metro stations. As a precaution, schools remained closed on Wednesday, for the second day in a row, as further heavy rains are expected.

Travelers have been urged not to travel to Dubai Airport, the world’s busiest in terms of international traffic, “unless absolutely necessary”. “Flights continue to be delayed and diverted. (…) We are working hard to restore operations as quickly as possible in very difficult conditions”declared a spokesperson for the airport manager. As of Tuesday, dozens of flights had been delayed, canceled or diverted.

Several victims in the Emirates and Oman

Dubai’s flagship airline Emirates suspended check-ins on Wednesday due to difficulties accessing the airport for staff and passengers, with roads blocked and some metro services suspended. Images of completely flooded landing strips, which have gone viral on social networks, demonstrate the extent of the flooding.

Friederike Otto, lecturer in climate sciences at the Grantham Institute of Imperial College London, judge “very probable” that global warming played a role in the intensity of these precipitations. “It is very likely that the deadly and destructive rains in Oman and Dubai were made stronger by man-made climate change”declared the British climatologist.

In a message published onthe United Arab Emirates National Meteorological Center calls “Residents to take all precautions and stay away from flooded areas.” At least one person died in the country, a 70-year-old man whose car was swept away.

DOther Gulf States were also in mourning. In Oman, at least 18 people died in the bad weather. Nine schoolchildren and three adults died in flash floods while they were in their car, the ONA news agency reported on Sunday. On Tuesday, the body of a child was also discovered.