In the United Arab Emirates there were exceptional and unusual rains that caused major flooding, after more than 80 millimeters of water rained between Monday night and Tuesday, almost half of the average rainfall that falls in the country in a year. According to the government, it was the heaviest rainfall in 75 years: the rain is quite unusual in the United Arab Emirates, a mostly desert area, and is usually more frequent in the winter months.
The most serious damage was reported in the Dubai area, the second largest city in the country after the capital Abu Dhabi, where there was the heaviest rainfall: 142 millimeters of rain fell in just 24 hours, compared to an annual average in the 95mm city. The highways and the airport, one of the busiest international hubs for travel between the West and Asia, were flooded, forcing some flights to be diverted to other airports.
Even in the city center the water flooded streets and buildings: most of the streets do not have a drainage system, precisely because it is an area where it never rains so much. Authorities sent tanker trucks into the streets to pump the water away.
The main and busiest shopping centers were flooded, as were some metro stations. The government has closed schools across the country and put public employees on smart working.
Tags: extraordinary intense floods Dubai
