Dubai was inundated with a year’s worth of rainfall in just twenty-four hours, causing widespread flash flooding across the city.
Social media platforms were flooded with visuals depicting the extraordinary scenes, including Dubai International Airport’s submerged runway. Operations at the airport were forced to halt for half an hour on Tuesday due to the intense situation.
According to reports, the airport recorded a staggering 160 mm of rain within 24 hours, whereas the city typically experiences around 88.9 mm of rainfall in an entire year. The incessant downpours led to the flooding of numerous roads and homes, disrupting daily life in the city.
The National Centre of Meteorology in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued a weather warning for large parts of the country, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. Dubai Police also issued advisories urging commuters to avoid certain roads due to flash flooding.
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The adverse weather conditions also impacted air travel, with numerous flights being delayed or cancelled. Emirates airline reported multiple flight disruptions, while Flydubai temporarily suspended all flights departing from Dubai until 10 am local time on Wednesday.
In a statement, a flydubai spokesperson confirmed the cancellations, stating, “All flydubai flights scheduled for departure from Dubai this evening (16 April) have been cancelled effective immediately until 10:00 (Dubai local time) on 17 April. During this period, passengers who do not have Dubai as their final destination will not be accepted for travel.”
Meanwhile, in neighboring Oman, heavy rains resulted in the tragic loss of at least 18 lives, including 10 students who were swept away by strong currents on April 14. In Bahrain, vehicles were stranded on flooded roads as the region grappled with the aftermath of the intense rainfall.
