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Dubai: torrential rains cause monster flooding
Dubai: torrential rains cause monster flooding
(franceinfo)
Dubai recorded almost a year’s worth of rainfall in the space of a single day. Qatar, Bahrain and Oman were also violently affected.
The runways of Dubai airport (United Arab Emirates) were completely flooded on Tuesday April 16. The airport, one of the busiest in the world, had to suspend the arrival of flights on Tuesday evening for two hours. On the morning of Wednesday April 17, activity was still disrupted. Impressive storms broke out during the night of April 16 to 17, in the Emirati megacity. In this largely desert country, the equivalent of two years of rain fell in 24 hours in places.
No victims
Some streets in Dubai have taken on the appearance of a river. Shopping centers were also flooded. Schools were closed for two days and authorities urged residents to avoid flooded areas at all costs. Other Gulf countries were affected by these torrential rains. In Oman, 18 people lost their lives on Monday. Their vehicles were swept away by exceptional floods. Fortunately there were no casualties in Dubai, where the sun was back on Wednesday morning. Further precipitation is forecast for the end of the afternoon, Wednesday April 17.
