Heavy Rains Cause Chaos in UAE
ABU DHABI — Chaos ensued in Dubai as Emirates was forced to cancel and delay numerous flights in and out of the bustling airport, the second-busiest in the world. This came as heavy rains returned to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, prompting people and students to work and study from the comfort of their homes.
The storm arrived just two weeks after record-setting rainfall wreaked havoc in various parts of the country and neighboring Oman, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least four individuals in the UAE and bringing Dubai to a standstill. The floods in Oman claimed the lives of 19 people, including 10 children whose school bus was swept away in the deluge.
Video footage from Ras Al-Khaimah captured palm trees swaying in the powerful winds as heavy rains battered the roads and lightning illuminated the sky. While the rainfall was not as severe as the previous event, Dubai recorded 20 millimeters in just 12 hours, more than double its usual total for April and May combined. Abu Dhabi saw 34 mm in 24 hours, over four times its typical rainfall for the same period.
Residents appeared to be better prepared this time around, with workmen seen clearing drains in Dubai a day before the rainfall hit. Emergency alerts were also widely distributed to mobile phones, urging people to stay indoors whenever possible.
Authorities took precautionary measures by implementing remote working and studying in affected areas, closing off roads to flood-prone valley regions, and advising people to avoid mountainous, desert, and sea areas. Scientists have linked the recent record rainfall to climate change, with research indicating that extreme rainfall events in the UAE and Oman have become 10-40% more intense due to global warming.
During the previous event, the UAE witnessed its heaviest rainfall in 75 years, with Dubai receiving more than a year and a half’s worth of rain in less than 24 hours. The effects of climate change are becoming increasingly evident in the region, highlighting the urgent need for mitigation strategies. — CNN
