Oman and UAE – Deadly Floods Hit After Torrential Rain

Heavy rain from 16 December caused has flooding in parts of Oman and United Arab Emirates. At least 3 people have died in Oman.

Oman

Oman Meteorology reported that Liwa in the north of the country recorded 111.6 mm of rain between 16 and 17 December. Typically the area would see around 20 mm for the whole of December.

Oman’s Civil Defence Department said that 3 people have died in flooding after heavy rain from 16 December. According to local media, one victim died after being struck by lightning in Saham and two others lost their lives after their vehicle was swept away by a flooded wadi in Fariq (Al Batinah).

Homes have been flooded or severely damaged by the heavy rain and 120 people left homeless, many of them from camps housing expatriate construction workers in the Muscat area.

Dozens of people have been rescued from flooded homes or stranded vehicles. Several people were injured in road accidents caused by the severe weather.

Royal Oman Police urged people to remain cautious and not to cross Wadis and low areas unless the water level and flow is safe.

The Department of Civil Defence have been touring some areas and communicating with locals to help increase awareness of the risks involved in crossing the valleys during heavy rainfall.

United Arab Emirates

Heavy rain also affected parts of the United Arab Emirates during the same period.

According to local news reports, Dubai Police recorded 581 traffic accidents in the last 24 hours due to unstable weather, officials said on Sunday.

Dozens of people were evacuated from homes in Fujairah, Al Ain and Khor Fakkan. Emirates Red Crescent say they are housing 188 people displaced by the flooding.

Social Media

#شرطة_الشارقة تكثف جهودها المرورية والمجتمعية في المنطقة الشرقية جراء الأمطار الغزيرة التي تشهدها الدولة pic.twitter.com/0uP9Q3mctI

— شرطة الشارقة (@ShjPolice) December 17, 2017

سجلت بعض محطات الرصد الجوي التابعة للهيئة العامة للطيران المدني كميات أمطار وكانت أعلاها 111.6 ملم في ولاية لوى في حين بلغت ، 74 ملم في نيابة الجبل الأخضر سيق، ولاية شناص 63 ملم، ولاية إزكي 47 ملم، ولاية أدم 38 ملم ولاية صحار 38 ملم ولاية الحمراء 35 ملم.

— الأرصاد العمانية (@OmanMeteorology) December 17, 2017

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