Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit the United Arab Emirates today, leading to the cancellation of several flights.
dubai:
Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit the UAE today, two weeks after Dubai was hit by an unprecedented storm that paralyzed the emirate for several days, leading to the cancellation of multiple international flights.
On Wednesday, the country’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Agency (NCEMA) raised the level of readiness and preparedness of the national system to deal with the situation.
These rains are not expected to be as heavy as the unprecedented torrential rains that hit the country last month, but the public is being urged to take precautions.
From April 14th to 15th, parts of the Arabian Peninsula were hit by heavy rains, with Dubai experiencing the heaviest rainfall on record since 1949.
Dubai-based Emirates announced on Thursday the cancellation of several flights as poor weather across the UAE reduced travel at Dubai International Airport (DXB).
“Customers arriving or departing from Dubai Airport on May 2 may expect some delays due to changes to flight schedules,” Emirates said in a statement.
The following flights were canceled on May 2: EK 123/124 – Dubai to Istanbul, EK 763/764 – Dubai to Johannesburg, EK 719/720 – Dubai to Nairobi, EK 921/922 – Dubai. to Cairo, EK 903/904 – Dubai to Amman, EK 352/353 – Dubai to Singapore (EK353 departs May 3 at 12:30am – UAE time). The company has also waived rebooking fees to help stranded passengers.
“Given the expected weather conditions, the Ministry of the Interior, in coordination with NCEMA, has recommended that all educational institutions conduct remote classes on Thursday and Friday. “The authorities will work with the Ministry of Education and the Emirates School Establishment to support the team,” it said on Wednesday.
As strong winds and light rain battered major cities, residents appeared ready to weather the situation. On Thursday and Friday, remote work was recommended for all government and private sectors, except for essential jobs that require people to be in the workplace or those involved in response and recovery activities. The Ministry of Interior, in coordination with NCEMA, has also decided to close all roads leading to areas prone to flash floods, water storage and dams under weather conditions.
“They called on the public to stay away from these areas, abide by safety standards and guidelines, and avoid mountainous, desert and coastal areas,” the statement said. There is also a warning of moderate to heavy rain with occasional thunder and lightning in scattered areas, as well as the possibility of small hail in western areas, the coast and some eastern areas.
Some flights were canceled Wednesday and some events were postponed due to bad weather. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways announced that flight EY197 from Mumbai to Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH) was diverted to Al Ain “due to adverse weather conditions in Abu Dhabi.” The flight was scheduled to arrive in Abu Dhabi around 1:35 p.m., but ended up landing around 7:30 p.m.
In Dubai, the Ports, Customs and Free Zones Corporation (PCFC) announced that it will temporarily suspend accepting requests for entry and exit of wooden dhows in Dubai. PCFC also advised seafarers to avoid sailing during this period to ensure everyone’s safety. As dark clouds rolled in and howling winds began to beat at the city’s windows, residents seemed more at ease and certainly prepared.
Dubai Metro has announced that it will extend its operating hours from midnight to 5am (next day) in advance of the expected weather conditions. However, the number of stops for these trains has been reduced.
An Emirates spokesperson said: “Severe thunderstorms are expected in Dubai on May 2. If you are traveling to Dubai International Airport, you may experience road delays. Travel time to the airport. We encourage passengers to use the Dubai Metro where possible.” Local media reported on Wednesday.
Officials have also been advised to refrain from sailing and avoid valley areas, heavy rain and low-lying areas. People are asked to drive carefully and follow the instructions of the competent authorities.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
