Dubai International Airport Hit by Heaviest Rainfall on Record
Dubai, UAE – In a rare and unprecedented event, Dubai experienced the heaviest rainfall ever recorded, leading to severe flooding at Dubai International Airport. The airport, known as the world’s busiest airfield for international travel, was forced to halt operations as more than 5.59 inches of rain soaked the city over a 24-hour period – surpassing the average yearly rainfall.
The floods caused major disruptions in travel, with flights delayed and passengers struggling to reach terminals through floodwater. The airport’s CEO acknowledged the ongoing challenges with flooding and the diversion of flights to other airports.
Authorities in the UAE had taken precautions ahead of the storm, closing schools and urging workers to stay home. Tanker trucks were deployed to pump away water from flooded areas. However, the extreme weather claimed the life of a 70-year-old man in Ras al-Khaimah, while Fujairah saw the heaviest rainfall at 5.7 inches.
The impact of the heavy rains was not just confined to the UAE, as Oman reported 19 fatalities, including 10 schoolchildren. Climatologists have linked these extreme weather events to human-driven climate change, affecting various countries in Central Asia and southern Russia.
Some experts also suggested that cloud seeding may have contributed to the intense rainfall in the region. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the growing risks associated with climate change and the urgent need for global action to address its effects.
