- The United Arab Emirates has been battered by extreme weather condition over the past days
- Cars were submerged in flood waters as traffic was reduced to a standstill for hours
- Residents shared dramatic photos and footages of the chaotic scene on social media
- The bad weather will likely continue until Thursday
Vehicles braved flood in Sharjah
ABU DHABI, UAE – The predominantly hot and humid United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been battered by strong winds and torrential rains over the past few days resulting in heavy flooding around the seven emirates.
Social media users have uploaded dramatic photos and videos showing cars submerged in knee-deep waters, debris flying and falling from buildings, commuters wading through floods, billboards knocked off by strong winds and even hails the size of 1 dirham.
According to local media, the National Centre of Seismology and Meteorology (NCSM) at Al Bateen Airport in the capital Abu Dhabi recorded winds of up to 126 kilometer per hour (kph) and more than 240 millimetres of rainfall in the area between Dubai and Al Ain.
Monstrous traffic jam was observed in the motorway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi forcing other motorists to turn back on Wednesday, March 9. Others were caught in the traffic chaos that was reduced to a stand still for hours.
The extreme weather condition also forced Etihad Airways to delay 10 departing flights from Abu Dhabi International Airport while 11 incoming flights had to be diverted.
There were also reports of evacuation at Al Bateen airport where the Abu Dhabi Air Expo is currently being held.
Director of corporate communications of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Moaza Al Marri said they have mobilized their emergency road agency team with more than a hundred personnel on site.
“We have called on 21 contractors and partners of our road maintenance team to help with the situation,” Al Marri said.
Many schools and shops were also closed for the day on Wednesday, while outdoor events were temporarily cancelled subject to further announcement.
A car stuck in a flood in UAE (Credit: Floodlist)
Many private companies, however, did not cancel work; forcing commuters to brave the relentless rains to report to their jobs. Construction works were halted for a time due to the windy condition.
The police command in Dubai alone received more than 2,000 emergency calls; mostly rain-related.
Authorities have yet to release an official report of damages and casualties. At least one truck driver was reportedly killed after he lost control of his vehicle at Sheik Zayed Road.
Last month a mother and her three children were killed in a spate of flooding in the northern emirates of Ras Al Khaimah.
The NCSM warned residents the bad weather may likely continue until Thursday, after which temperatures is expected to drop gradually, with a high of 29°C and a low of 12°C in the inland.
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