Dubai is under water. The city’s international airport, one of the busiest in the world, diverted some flights on Tuesday due to heavy rains which caused significant flooding in the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf countries.
This airport in the economic capital of the Emirates, where more than 100 flights were expected on Tuesday evening, previously interrupted its operations for 25 minutes in the chaos caused by the storm, a rare phenomenon in this desert country. The airport confirmed the cessation of arriving flights at 7:26 p.m. before announcing a “gradual resumption” two hours later.
Collapsed roads
Dubai has been paralyzed by flooding caused by torrential rains. Three other Gulf countries, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman where 18 people died, also suffered heavy flooding.
Major shopping centers in Dubai were flooded, according to images posted on social media, as were roads and a metro station. Some roads have collapsed, residential areas have been affected by significant flooding and many residents have reported leaks from roofs, doors and windows.
Schools have been closed in the Emirates and are expected to remain closed this Wednesday, as further heavy rain is expected. The Dubai government has also extended teleworking for its employees until Wednesday.
More than 80 millimeters of rain in 24 hours
Some areas of the Emirates recorded more than 80 millimeters of rain in 24 hours, close to the annual average of around 100 mm. Friederike Otto, a lecturer in climate science at the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London, said it was likely that global warming played a role. The Emirati and Omani governments have also previously warned that climate change risks leading to more flooding.
In Oman, at least 18 people have died since Sunday in floods after the body of a child was discovered on Tuesday, according to authorities. Nine schoolchildren and three adults died when their vehicles were swept away by flash floods, ONA news agency reported on Sunday.