DUBAI: Three Filipino have lost their lives amid severe flooding in the United Arab Emirates, according to Filipino officials. The desert nation grappled with the aftermath of unprecedented rains havoc, struggled on Friday to recover from record rains.
The Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers revealed that two women suffocated inside their vehicle during the flooding in Dubai, marking the city’s first confirmed fatalities from the deluge. Moreover, one man lost his life in Sharjah when his vehicle plunged into a sinkhole, reported AFP.
These incidents add to the death toll, which includes a 70-year-old man swept away in his vehicle in Ras Al-Khaimah, one of the UAE’s seven emirates.
“The two females died due to suffocation inside their vehicle during the flooding,” stated the Department of Migrant Workers, elaborating on the tragic events. “The third victim died an accident caused by his vehicle falling into a sinkhole during the flooding.”
The storms, which struck the UAE and Bahrain on Tuesday, after causing flash floods and landslides in Oman, claiming at least 21 lives, including several schoolchildren, according to official media reports.
Dubai, a major financial hub in the Middle East, bore the brunt of the rainfall, described as the heaviest in the city’s recorded in 75 years. Dubai airport, renowned as the world’s busiest for international travelers, experienced significant disruptions, with over 1,000 flights canceled. Roads remained submerged, littered with abandoned vehicles on Friday.
Due to ongoing disruptions, inbound flights to Dubai will be restricted until Sunday, as announced by a Dubai Airports spokesperson. However, departures will continue as scheduled.
Dubai airport witnessed chaotic scenes as stranded travelers sought information about their flights. In a prior statement, the airport said it is facing challenges in handling a backlog of baggage due to resource constraints exacerbated by road blockages.
Paul Griffiths, the chief executive of Dubai Airports, expressed hope for a return to normalcy within 24 hours, aiming to mitigate the disruptions caused by the unprecedented weather event.
