On Tuesday, severe thunderstorms hit the United Arab Emirates, leading to heavy flooding in Dubai. The city experienced an unusually large amount of rain, equivalent to a year and a half’s worth, in just a few hours.
This extreme weather caused disruptions in traffic and operations at Dubai International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world.
Dubai received around 20 millimeters of rain on Monday, and it intensified on Tuesday.
By the end of the day, the city had accumulated over 142 millimeters of rain, which is more than its average annual rainfall of 94.7 millimeters.
Inside the airport terminal, there was chaos because of overcrowding, and some people were turned away. Witnesses described scenes that looked like something out of an apocalyptic story, with flooded roads and luxury cars seemingly floating through the streets.
The heavy rain caused disruptions in Dubai’s Metro system, with flooded stations and the closure of schools. Many people chose to work remotely to avoid the chaos.
Authorities used tanker trucks to pump water from flooded areas, but even residential neighborhoods were affected, leading residents to take emergency measures.
