Dubai, the Center East’s monetary centre, has been paralysed by heavy rain and storm that has prompted widespread flooding across the desert nation.
The report rainfall has resulted in delayed or diverted flights, whereas automobiles have been left stranded on flooded roads.
Passengers have been warned to not come to Dubai airport, the world’s busiest by worldwide visitors, ”until completely crucial”.
”Flights proceed to be delayed and diverted. We’re working laborious to get well operations as rapidly as potential in very difficult situations,” a Dubai Airports spokesperson mentioned.
Over 500 flights – each inbound and outbound – have been diverted, delayed or cancelled because the climate division predicts extra rain and storms right this moment.
Authorities have cancelled about 15 flights sure for Dubai, whereas 13 flights to India have been cancelled.
Dubai’s flagship Emirates Airline mentioned it’s halting all check-ins for passengers for the day as dangerous climate in Dubai has prompted a journey chaos. ”Emirates is working laborious to revive our scheduled operations, and our groups will present all potential help to affected prospects,” the airline mentioned within the assertion.
Flagship procuring centres Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates each suffered flooding and water was ankle-deep at Metro stations. Officers mentioned Metro trains are at present working on particular routes as upkeep work is underway at stations on Pink and Inexperienced strains.
The impression of the storm prolonged past Dubai, with your complete UAE and neighbouring Bahrain experiencing comparable scenes of flooding and chaos.
Colleges have been closed, and additional storms, together with hail, are forecasted for right this moment, prompting authorities to increase distant working preparations for presidency workers.
The storms and rain hit the UAE and Bahrain after lashing Oman, the place 18 folks have been killed, together with a number of kids.
Official media mentioned it was the best rainfall since data started in 1949, earlier than the formation of the UAE in 1971.
The nation’s climate workplace ”urged residents to take all of the precautions and to avoid areas of flooding and water accumulation”.
Each the Oman and the UAE, which hosted final yr’s COP28 UN local weather talks, have beforehand warned that world warming is prone to result in extra flooding.