EBN- Gulf states have been battered by rare heavy rain, which has resulted in flash floods that have claimed 20 lives and disrupted flights at the second-busiest airport in the world.
On Wednesday, Dubai Airport reported that it was operating in “very challenging conditions.” It advised passengers not to turn up as runways inundated with water.
A man lost his life when heavy rains trapped his car further north.
Rescuers in Oman discovered a girl’s body in Saham, raising the total number of fatalities in the nation to 19 since Sunday.
Authorities issued a warning, stating that numerous low-lying areas remained under water and that more thunderstorms, torrential rain, and strong winds were predicted.
The United Arab Emirates, Oman’s northern neighbour, experienced on Tuesday its largest rainfall event since records began 75 years ago.
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 country averages 140-200 mm of rainfall per year, while Dubai typically receives only 97mm. The monthly average for April is only about 8mm.
Footage from the centre of Dubai 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.
