Heavy thunderstorms in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday caused severe travel disruptions across the desert nation with the country recording the heaviest rainfall within hours.
Major highways and the extremely busy Dubai International Airport were flooded.
The state-run WAM news agency described the rain as “a historic weather event” that eclipsed “anything documented since the start of data collection in 1949.”
The rains began late on Monday and by the end of the next day, it had battered the city with almost 6 inches of rain-soaking the sands and roadways.
The average annual rain the airport receives is about 4 inches. It is the world’s busiest airport for international travel.
With usually arid roads and airport runways becoming waterlogged, airport authorities had no choice but to temporary stall operations as well as diverting incoming flights till conditions improved.
While the airport urged passengers not to visit the airport “unless absolutely necessary”, couple of passengers who found their way through flooded roads to reach terminals described the situation as “absolute carnage”.
The Airport authorities admitted on Wednesday morning that the unprecedented occurrence had left “limited transportation options” as airline crews couldn’t get to work.
“Recovery will take some time,” the airport said on the social platform X. “We thank you for your patience and understanding while we work through these challenges.”
Schools across the Emirate had been closed ahead of the storm and most government employees were asked to work remotely.
While there was no official information on the level of casualties or damage, police reported that a 70-year-old man died after his vehicle was swept away by the rainstorm.
