Unprecedented rains threw life out of gear across the UAE on Tuesday, forcing authorities to suspend schools and divert flights bound for Dubai International Airport. The Emirate received a record rainfall over the last two days with the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) calling the rains "an exceptional event in the UAE's climate history since the start of recording climate data".
The showers which began on Monday flooded the streets after which schools were suspended and government employees were forced to work from home.
Airports witnessed chaos as showers submerged the taxiway and passengers struggled to reach terminals through the floodwater covering surrounding roads.
The NCM issued a fresh forecast warning that a new wave of unstable weather was expected to last till tomorrow morning. “Another wave begins from the Western areas and includes scattered areas of the country, where the amounts of convective clouds increase, associated with rainfall of different intensities, accompanied by lightning and thunder, and a probability of hail over some areas,” the alert read.
Inbound flights suspended
The Dubai International Airport on Tuesday decided to temporarily divert all inbound flights to the nearest available airports. However, departures will continue to operate as normal.
"The airport is working hard with its response teams and service partners to restore normal operations and minimise inconvenience to our customers. We urge guests to check directly with the airline to obtain the latest information on the status of their flight, allow significant extra travel time to the airport and use the Dubai metro where possible," Khaleej Times quoted Dubai Airports.
Thewebsite for Dubai airport, one of the world's busiest, shows dozens of flights delayed or cancelled, with affected destinations including India, Pakistan, Saudi and the United Kingdom.
UAE airlines Etihad, Emirates and flydubai are experiencing delays to flights as heavy rain falls in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Fludubai also cancelled all flights scheduled for departure from Dubai from Tuesday till Wednesday morning. "During this period, passengers who do not have Dubai as their final destination will not be accepted for travel," a flyDubai spokesperson was quoted as saying.
Oman
In neighbouring Oman, a sultanate that rests on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, at least 18 people had been killed in heavy rains in recent days, according to a statement on Tuesday from the country's National Committee for Emergency Management. That includes some 10 schoolchildren swept away in a vehicle with an adult, which saw condolences come into the country from rulers across the region.
(With PTI inputs)