Heavy rains lashed out in the gulf countries including Oman and the United Arab Emirates yesterday morning.
This heavy downpour, which even uprooted trees, ended up disrupting normal life and led to cancellation of flights. Motorists were also stuck in traffic for several hours
In Oman, 20 people succumbed to death. Fortunately, there were no casualties in Dubai. The authorities described the thunderstorm as extremely challenging.
The Heaviest Downpour in the Gulf and the Lives Lost
According to the National Center of Meteorology, Oman has experienced the greatest downpour since 1949 when data collection began. The country recorded 254.8mm in a single day.
Normally, Oman’s level of rainfall per year ranges from 140 to 200mm. As for the UAE, the average annual rainfall is merely 97mm. This unprecedented rainfall is attributed to the global climatic changes.
Meteorological reports indicate that the low lands of the region are still underwater.
In Oman, 20 lives were lost due to the heavy rains, among them one girl in Saham. Moreover, it became necessary to accommodate more than 1400 people in shelter homes.
In Dubai an elderly man died when his vehicle was flashed away by the heavy floods.
Areas Most Affected by the Heavy Downpour
The disruption of life in the gulf region due rains on April 16th included people getting stuck in metros, shopping malls, and at airports. Basic utility services such as gas and electricity supply were also disrupted in different areas.
Among the most seriously affected roads was the Sheikh Zayed Road. It had severe flash floods that made driving through extremely difficult. According to authorities, it is likely to take several days before life gets back to normal in the region.
Flight Cancellations at Dubai International Airport
All flights in and out of the busy Dubai International Airport were canceled. Emirates and Fly Dubai were among the first airlines to suspend their flights.
In order to avoid inconveniencing passengers further, the Emirates communicated to their passengers on X. The message cautioned those who had tickets to check their flight status before leaving their places of residence.
Besides airports and roads, shopping places were also massively affected. For example, people were stuck inside the Dubai Mall for several hours. A pregnant Ms. Seubert described the flooding of the mall and collapsing of ceilings. She also noted that business at the mall was closed by 7:30 p.m.
Massive rains were also reported in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, as Dubai International Airport instructed people to stay away from the airport on Wednesday. 87 million passengers ordinarily travel through the airport every year.
The region’s flagship airline, the Emirates, continued to warn passengers on Wednesday to keep off Dubai International Airport.