Dubai finds itself grappling with the aftermath of the Dubai floods , which inundated the desert city. Residents recount harrowing tales of enduring the night in their vehicles, while air travelers faced chaotic scenes at airports.
On Tuesday, an extraordinary amount of rain, up to 259.5mm (10.2in), deluged the typically arid United Arab Emirates, marking the highest recorded rainfall in 75 years. The state-run WAM news agency labeled Tuesday’s downpour as “a historic weather event,” surpassing any previously documented rainfall since data collection began in 1949.
As Wednesday brought back the sun, so too emerged stories of individuals stranded in cars and offices throughout a challenging night. One Dubai resident, in his 30s, described his ordeal, wherein a 15-minute commute stretched into a 12-hour struggle on flooded roads, as “one of the most horrific situations I had ever experienced.”
At Dubai’s bustling airport, a hub for international travel, delays became the norm, prompting Emirates passengers to be advised to avoid the airport “unless absolutely necessary.” Frustration mounted among those already present, evidenced by a sizable crowd gathering at a connections desk, expressing discontent through clapping and whistling while awaiting information.
The airport’s runways and taxiways found themselves submerged in standing water, causing disruptions as aircraft attempted to land. Reflecting on the chaos of this Dubai floods , one couple, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, described the scene as “absolute carnage,” highlighting the challenges faced in a country with stringent laws against critical speech.
The situation extended beyond the airport, with reports of individuals resorting to sleeping in Metro stations due to the transportation disruptions.
