An unprecedented flood struck the city of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, yesterday, submerging cars, roads, buildings, and the Dubai International Airport following torrential rains.
The UAE witnessed 254mm of rainfall in less than 24 hours, which is more than the yearly supply and the highest since the UAE was established in 1971.
Dubai’s ultra-modern buildings were submerged; houses, shops and vehicles were ravaged, and people got stranded for several hours.
Videos that circulated on social media showed people taking refuge inside shopping malls as floodwaters gushed in.
Media reports say one person died in the UAE as a result of the floods, which disrupted schools and commercial activities.
Some houses were submerged up to the roof, with several vehicles carried away by the rushing floods in some areas.
At the Dubai International Airport, videos showed a large passenger plane struggling to push through the waters as other aircraft stood immobile at the facility.
The airport, which is one of the busiest in the world, canceled flights and cautioned people to stay away from the facility until the floodwaters had been cleared.
In a statement quoted by Al Jazeera on Wednesday, the airport’s spokesperson said, “Flights continue to be delayed and diverted … We are working hard to recover operations as quickly as possible in very challenging conditions.”
The country’s famous airline, Emirates, rescheduled flights for Wednesday night as authorities deal with the aftereffects of the floods.
