ABU DHABI // Rain, wind, thunder, lightning and even snow descended across the country on Monday, causing flooding and traffic chaos that resulted in at least three deaths.
A youngster from a Gulf country died and three Asians suffered minor injuries in seven severe traffic accidents in Abu Dhabi, while two people were killed in over 750 reported incidents in Dubai.
Lt Col Jamal Salem Al Ameri, chief of Public Relations Section at the Abu Dhabi traffic police, said the investigations showed the accidents were caused by driving at speeds that are not suitable for wet weather conditions, tailgating and inattention to the road.
Lt Col Al Ameri urged motorists to exercise caution on the road, reduce speed, and avoid slamming on the brakes when the roads are wet.
Drivers were also cautioned against using hazard lights except for when they are stationary, as well as against stopping under trees, near billboards, and around construction sites when strong winds are blowing.
Lt Col Al Ameri advised motorists who have an accident or whose cars have had a mechanical failure in the rain to get their vehicles off the road and move them to the nearest safe place to allow flow of traffic.
In Dubai, the General Department of Traffic said that one person was killed when a bus carrying three people swerved on Mohammed bin Zayed Road under the Al Nahda Street bridge. The bus hit another vehicle parked on the hard shoulder.
Another person was killed in an incident on Sheikh Zayed Road when two people were run over after they stopped on the roadside to tend to their own accident. The other person was injured and transported to hospital via air rescue.
A third incident led to the serious injury of an Emirati man, who was involved in a three-car accident on the Dubai-Al Ain road.
A total of 756 road incidents were recorded on Monday, while motorists were warned to be extra cautious on the roads and watch out for puddles of water.
Dubai Police said the accidents, which occurred between 6am and 2pm, were almost all a result of heavy rainfall that swept the UAE on Monday.
Brig Omar Al Shamsi, deputy director of Dubai Police’s operations department, said 36 incidents involved three or more vehicles.
Of the 36 cases, 15 were recorded as serious, two medium, and 19 were minor incidents.
Dubai Police said that there were 13 cases of vehicles catching on fire, one of which occurred on Sheikh Zayed around 9.20am. No injuries were recorded.
Rain, thunder and lightning in Dubai started in the early morning hours, and the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology warned of heavy thunderstorms in Al Ruwais. The centre also warned of scattered storms in the Northern Emirates, as well as light to moderate rain in many parts of Abu Dhabi.
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