LIVE: Landslide, flight diversions, floods in UAE as heavy rains pound 7 emirates
LIVE: Landslide, flight diversions, floods in UAE as heavy rains pound 7 emirates
Meher Dhanjal
/
Nasreen Abdulla
/Angel Tesorero
/Neeraj Murali
/Mazhar Farooqui
/Nandini Sircar
/SM Ayaz Zakir
The severe weather conditions forecast to strike the UAE this weekend have begun.
Heavy rain and thunder have lashed several parts of the country overnight, with many residents waking up to showers, dark skies and strong winds.
Everyone is advised to stay indoors. Events were cancelled and popular leisure spots were closed.
With the bad weather expected to peak today — Khaleej Times brings you the latest updates from across the UAE.
12.15pm: Hail, heavy rains cause floods in UAE
KT readers have sent in videos and photos of the heavy rains across the country.
Instagram user ‘MoHsIn’ sent in a clip of hail pelting early today morning.
KT reader Dr Reshma Koshy sent in a video of rains from early today morning at Al Ittihad Road:
12pm: Dubai residents change plans after rains begin pouring
Some residents were visiting Kite Beach as part of their fitness routine. However, they had to cut their plans short due to a sudden heavy downpour.
“It wasn’t raining in the morning, and we decided to go for a jog. We reached the beach around 6.30am. It was very windy and cloudy, but there were no signs of rain. However, around 7am, it started raining heavily,” said Vani, a resident of Nad Al Sheba.
“When it started raining heavily, all my focus was to find shelter and run towards my vehicle. It was not normal rain. I saw the seas, and they were very rough,” added Vani.
11.50am: New road closures
Sharjah Police has said in an update that all road exit tunnels extending on Sharjah Maliha Road, Sharjah Al Dhaid road, and Khor Fakkan Road are closed due to rainwater accumulation.
An underpass used for U-turns along Emirates road has also been closed, motorists have noted.
11.45am: Kalba recovery teams prepared for potential emergencies
Shahid Kamal, a recovery truck driver in Kalba, said that he and his team have prepared for potential emergencies by having five trucks on standby to extract vehicles in the event of flooding.
“Two of the trucks have come from Sharjah to help residents extract vehicles from the water. Many people have parked their cars at higher altitudes. It is not raining much right now. Police have informed us that it may rain heavily and to be prepared,” said Kamal.
“Drawing from past experiences, many cars were stuck in water when it rained heavily, and the repair cost was very expensive. We need to take proactive steps to reduce the impact on the vehicles,” added Kamal.
11.35am: Intercity buses suspended temporarily
Dubai’s RTA has temporarily halted intercity bus service between Dubai and Sharjah (Route E315), it said in a tweet.
11.30am: Dubai residents pay more for parking
Motorists who parked their cars in RTA spaces found themselves navigating water puddles to retrieve their vehicles before the 8am deadline when free parking ends.
With the hope of relocating to an unpaid spot, one driver in Dubai described their frustrating morning. “I initially extended my parking until 9am, aiming to find a free space later,” said the motorist. “Yet as the rain persisted, I had to prolong it hour by hour. It seems I might be doing this the entire day.”
11.22am: Water accumulation on and near Sheikh Zayed Road
Dubai residents travelling on and near Sheikh Zayed Road have witnessed pools of water forming on the major road.
Nasreen Abdulla, who was driving by said, “The exit from the service road to Sheikh Zayed Road near the first interchange is so flooded that cars are turning around and people are taking alternative routes.”
11.15am: Rainfall ‘not heavy’ in Kalba, residents prepared
Residents in Kalba had been anticipating heavy rain that could potentially lead to flooding on roads and water entering homes. However, to their surprise and relief, the anticipated heavy rainfall did not occur as expected.
“Last evening, a policeman informed the residents that there would be heavy rain and advised us to be prepared. We took precautions by placing our important household items on the first floor and packing our bags,” said Promod Pattanoor, a resident of Kalba.
“It started raining in the morning at around 8am, but it was not heavy. However, we are all prepared if the situation goes out of our hands,” said Pattanoor.
“The situation did not escalate as feared, bringing a sense of relief in anticipation of adverse weather conditions,” added Pattanoor.
11.10am: Landslide in Ras Al Khaimah, residents cautioned
A road in Ras Al Khaimah caved in due to a landslide after heavy rains pounded the Emirates overnight.
The Ras Al Khaimah Police have cordoned off a part of Al Shuhada Street after the mishap. The landslide happened on the street leading towards Emirates Road.
The police shared photos that showed a section of the road collapsed.
11am: Residents indulge in comfort foods
The rain began gently before transforming into a torrential downpour that flooded the streets around the Business Bay Metro Station.
With it being the weekend, the usual throng of commuters refrained from using the metro, opting to stay home instead. They sought solace in sipping hot tea and indulging in pakodis—a type of fritter beloved in many Asian households.
“We typically reserve fritters for iftar during Ramadan, but the rain-drenched weather inspired me to whip up a batch today,” said an Indian housewife. “I’m absolutely enthralled by this weather—the dark clouds and the sight of cars splashing water as they speed along Sheikh Zayed Road. It’s quite a spectacle from my balcony.”
10.55am: Dubai-Sharjah traffic update
Informing residents driving to Sharjah that there is heavy traffic in that direction, it urged motorists to use alternative roads such as Beirut Street and Emirates Road.
10.45am: 13 inbound Dubai flights diverted
Thirteen inbound flights to Dubai International Airport (DXB) on Saturday morning have been rerouted to nearby airport, a DXB official told Khaleej Times.
“Dubai Airports can confirm that normal operations at Dubai International (DXB) have been affected due to the adverse weather conditions since early hours on Saturday, March 9. Consequently, 13 inbound flights have been rerouted to nearby airports. We are actively collaborating with our service partners and airlines to minimise any inconvenience experienced by our valued guests,” DXB said in a statement.
10.35am: Water pockets on major roads
Dubai resident Shihab was out on a drive with his friend near Dubai Trade Centre roundabout when he encountered water pockets.
Drivers are advised to drive slowly and carefully during the rain.
10.25am: Flooding roads, cars break down
Water has been accumulating on roads across the UAE. With muddy pools forming on Hatta streets.
Visuals shared by Mohammed Galadari show roads in Hatta almost entirely covered in muddy brown water as drivers attempt to wade through cautiously.
Some people were also seen struggling to push a broken down vehicle through a flooded road amid the adverse weather.
Some people were found struggling in Hatta as their car broke down amid the adverse weather. Three men were seeing pushing a vehicle out of a flooded road in Hatta.
10.15am: Boots on the ground
All geared up for rain, the Dubai Police brave floodwaters to manage traffic and keep motorists safe:
10am: Fewer cars on road, no queue of commuters
In Al Furjan, only a few vehicles are on the road.
Usually, there’s a long line of commuters waiting for the bus — but, today, there’s no queue. Puddles of water are also starting to form in different spots.
9.52am: Deliveries continue despite rains
Delivery riders continue working despite the inclement weather conditions outside. Food delivery applications have informed users of possible delays as rains persist.
Deepak, a delivery rider from Nepal, has said to KT Reporter Angel Tesorero that deliveries continue but riders take shelter when it rains. He has just finished delivering food ordered from Motor City to Dubai South, a distance of about 18kms.
Food delivery outlets have asked some users to pick up their meals instead, due to bad weather.
9.45am: Residents step out and battle weather
UAE residents have pulled out all stops when it comes to battling severe weather conditions that have been persisting all morning.
As some step out to work, they can be seen dressed in raincoats and carrying colourful umbrellas.
9.30am: Rains pour, motorists asked to slow down
Rains continue pouring down, as cars are seen wading through wet roads. This video shared by KT reader Nicola, shows a car slowly driving into a road where water has accumulated.
Motorists have been asked to exercise caution while driving as inclement weather persists. The Ministry of Interior has put out an alert urging residents to drive safely.
9.15am: Restaurants open, not many to serve
Some restaurants have opened but residents have not started heading out yet.
9am: Unstable weather forecast today
Weather conditions will continue to be unstable today, the National Centre of Meteorology has said. Rainfall of different intensities will take place, along with lightning and thunder.
JLT resident Dominic Keogh Peters shared a video of heavy rains pelting the area, early today morning.
Temperatures are set to decrease today and could be as low as 20ºC in Abu Dhabi and 19ºC in Dubai and 10ºC in mountainous regions.
Visibility is also set to dip, as heavy rains and strong winds will cause dust and sand to blow.
ALSO READ:
source: khaleejtimes
