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Dubai flooding: Fierce storm lashes United Arab Emirates as flights diverted Gulf flooding: Dubai airport chaos as UAE and Oman reel from deadly storms
(about 1 hour later)
WATCH: Heavy rain causes flash flooding in DubaiWATCH: Heavy rain causes flash flooding in Dubai
WATCH: Heavy rain causes flash flooding in DubaiWATCH: Heavy rain causes flash flooding in Dubai
Heavy rain has battered some Gulf states, causing flash flooding across the region and leading to flights to the world's busiest international airport being diverted. Heavy rain has been battering Gulf states, causing flash floods that have killed 20 people and disrupting flights at the world's second-busiest airport.
Dubai Airport said operations were "temporarily diverted" - though they have since restarted. Dubai Airport said it was facing "very challenging conditions" on Wednesday. It advised passengers not to turn up as runways were inundated with water.
Authorities in Oman said at least 18 people had been killed by floods. Further north, a man died when his car was caught in flash floods.
Several states recorded nearly a year's worth of rain in a day. In Oman, rescuers found the body of a girl in Saham, bringing the death toll in the country to 19 since Sunday.
Unverified video from Dubai International Airport appeared to show jets leaving waves in their wake as they made their way down flooded runways. Authorities also warned that more thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds were forecast, with many low-lying areas still under water.
In a statement, the airport said inbound flights due to arrive on Tuesday evening had been diverted "due to the continued exceptional weather event currently being experienced in the UAE". More than 1,400 people have been evacuated to shelters. Schools and government offices have been closed as a precaution.
Departures would continue to operate, it added. Flights later restarted after an interruption of about two hours. On Sunday, 10 schoolchildren aged between 10 and 15 and an adult were killed when their bus was swamped by floodwater as it attempted to drive through a wadi in the al-Mudhaibi area of Sharqiya province, about 115km (70 miles) south of the capital, Muscat.
On Tuesday morning, the UAE's National Centre of Meteorology issued a weather warning for large swathes of the country, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. Three other children and the driver were rescued. Two of them were reportedly airlifted to safety after being swept 600m (1,970ft) from the bus.
The Gulf region is usually known for hot and dry weather, though heavy rains causing flooding have also occurred with greater regularity in recent years. The sultanate's council of ministers said it was "filled with grief" over the deaths and sent their condolences to the victims' families.
In neighbouring Oman, authorities said the death toll from flash floods had increased to 18, with some still missing. The dead included 10 students aged between 10 and 15 who were killed on 14 April when the vehicle they were travelling in attempted to cross a flooded area but was swept away. As of Tuesday evening, two northern areas of Oman had received 180mm (7in) of rain since Sunday, while more than 120mm had fallen on eight other areas, the National Committee of Emergency Management said.
In Bahrain, footage showed cars stranded in flooded roads. Precipitation is scarce in Oman. Annual average rainfall ranges from 150 to 300mm in the north, with most falling in pre- and post-monsoon storms.
More than double the amount of rain expected in a year fell in just one day.More than double the amount of rain expected in a year fell in just one day.
More than double the amount of rain expected in a year fell in just one day.More than double the amount of rain expected in a year fell in just one day.
Scientists have linked the unusual weather to climate change, saying exceptional storms will become more common in future as the planet warms. The United Arab Emirates, Oman's northern neighbour, experienced on Tuesday its largest rainfall event since records began 75 years ago.
For every 1C rise in average temperature, the atmosphere can hold about 7% more moisture. This can result in more droplets and heavier rainfall, sometimes in a shorter space of time and over a smaller area. The National Centre of Meteorology announced that 254.8mm (9.7in) had fallen on Khatm al-Shakla, in the emirate of al-Ain, over less than 24 hours.
The UAE - one of the world's biggest oil producers - hosted last year's COP28 climate change conference. The country averages between 140-200 mm of rainfall per year, while the average for Dubai is only 97mm. The average for April is only about 8mm.
An intense storm that began on Tuesday morning and continued through most of the day forced the airport to suspend operations for 25 minutes, divert several inbound planes and cancel a number of inbound and outbound flights.
Videos posted on social media showed aircraft ploughing through several inches of water that completely covered the airport's apron and taxiways.
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Footage from the centre of Dubai, meanwhile, showed dozens of submerged vehicles on a flooded part of Sheikh Zayed Road, as well as long traffic jams elsewhere on the 12-lane highway.
No deaths were reported in Dubai, but an elderly man was killed when his vehicle was swept away in a flash flood in Ras al-Khaimah.
Although the rain had eased by Tuesday evening, Dubai International Airport warned on Wednesday morning that "recovery will take some time".
"We are currently experiencing significant disruption due to the weather and are continuously working with our emergency response teams and service partners to restore normal operations as quickly as possible," it said on X, formerly Twitter.
"Flooding and road blockages have left limited transport options for arriving and departing guests. Flights are delayed/diverted and impacted by displaced crew," it added.
Emirates, one of the UAE's two flag carriers and the world's largest international airline, meanwhile told customers that check-in had been suspended at the airport for all flights until midnight (20:00 GMT).
Roads leading to Dubai airport were also flooded, making it hard for passengers to get there
FlyDubai, Emirates' low-cost sister airline, said some outbound flights would operate from one terminal after 20:00.
Its chief executive, Paul Griffiths, told local radio station Dubai Eye: "In living memory, I don't think anyone has ever seen conditions like it."
The UAE government advised people to stay at home and extended remote working for its employees. Private schools were also advised to carry out remote learning.
The heavy rain also hit Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, where videos showed cars stranded in flooded roads.
Many factors contribute to flooding, but a warming atmosphere caused by climate change makes extreme rainfall more likely.
The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions.
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