Major emergency response after UAE hit by floods

Police, civil defence and ministry of defence teams join relief efforts after days of heavy rain

Towers in Fujairah city surrounded by floodwaters. Photo: Mahesh Jangam / @MaheshMj80202 / Twitter

Vehicles partially submerged on the streets of the city. Photo: Mahesh Jangam / @MaheshMj80202 / Twitter

A flooded area in Fujairah city. Photo: Fujairah Media Office

A dam in the emirate of Fujairah overflows. Photo: Fujairah Media Office

Emergency teams relocate people in Fujairah, after their homes were flooded. Photo: UAE Ministry of Defence

Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, inspects the areas affected by heavy rains. Photo: Fujairah Media Office

During the inspection tour, Sheikh Mohammed stressed that efforts will continue and all resources will be allocated to deal with the situation. Photo: Fujairah Media Office

The Joint Operations Command of the Ministry of Defence announced the continuation of Operation Loyal Hands in Fujairah, after heavy rain and flash flooding. Photo: UAE Ministry of Defence

Civilians were evacuated and given medical aid where required. Photo: MOD UAE

Search and rescue teams and equipment were sent to Fujairah. Photo: MOD UAE

Civil authorities were working to diminish the effects of the torrential rain. Photo: MOD UAE

Flooding in Fujairah city, as more rain is expected. Antonie Robertson / The National

Flooding in Fujairah city: Damage in the Alfaseel neighbourhood. Antonie Robertson / The National

Flooding in Fujairah city: Damage in the Alfaseel neighbourhood. Antonie Robertson / The National

Damage and flooding near the carpet souk area. Antonie Robertson / The National

Flooding in Fujairah city. Antonie Robertson / The National

An SUV negotiates a flooded Fujairah city road after heavy rain hit parts of the Northern Emirates. Antonie Robertson / The National

Roads and residential areas in Fujairah were flooded, displacing many from their homes. Antonie Robertson / The National

Sitting on the fence, residents are all smiles despite pools of standing water forming on roads in Fujairah city. Antonie Robertson / The National

Civil defence workers help to recover cars in water-logged Fujairah city. Antonie Robertson / The National

The weather bureau has forecast more rain in the next few days. Antonie Robertson / The National

Vehicles submerged in water-logged roads in Fujairah. Antonie Robertson / The National

Car swept away in flash floods lies beside a road in Fujairah. Antonie Robertson / The National

Waterlogged low lying areas and subways in Fujairah city. Antonie Robertson / The National

Flooding in Fujairah city. Antonie Robertson/The National

Flooding in Fujairah city. Antonie Robertson/The National

Flooding in Fujairah city. Antonie Robertson/The National

An overturned car in Fujairah city beside a flooded road. Antonie Robertson / The National

More rain is forecast for the UAE's east coast. Antonie Robertson/The National

Downpours have led to flooding across Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah. Antonie Robertson/The National

Flooding in Fujairah city. Antonie Robertson/The National

Ministry of Defence images show servicemen helping residents in floodwaters in the Northern Emirates. Photo: UAE Ministry of Defence

Flooding in Fujairah city with more rains expected. Antonie Robertson/The National

Rescue personnel help residents affected by the flooding in the Northern Emirates. Photo: UAE Ministry Of Defence

Servicemen move residents to dry ground. Photo: UAE Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence images show servicemen helping residents in floodwaters in the Northern Emirates. Photo: UAE MOD

Cars navigate flooded roads in Fujairah. Issa Alkindy/The National

A car swept away in the floods on the outskirts of Fujairah. Issa Alkindy/The National

Cars that were washed away by flooding on the outskirts of Fujairah. Issa Alkindy/The National

The aftermath of flooding in Fujairah. Issa Alkindy/The National

Water on the roads in Fujairah. Issa Alkindy/The National

A man takes a photo of the floods in Fujairah. Issa Alkindy/The National

Families stop at the side of a mountain in Khor Fakkan to play in the water. Ruel Pableo for The National

Families stop to play in the water. Ruel Pableo for The National

Children play in the water flowing down the side of the road. Ruel Pableo for The National

There was some rockfall in areas along the road. Ruel Pableo for The National

Families stop at the side of the mountain to play in the water. Ruel Pableo for The National

A man clears rocks from the road. Ruel Pableo for The National

Families stop to play in the water. Ruel Pableo for The National

Cars navigate a flooded road in Khor Fakkan, amid heavy rains in the city. Ruel Pableo for The National

Waterlogged roads in the city after torrential rain fell overnight. Ruel Pableo for The National

Khor Fakkan has experienced two days of intense rainfall. Ruel Pableo for The National

Authorities are urging people to take care in hazardous conditions. Ruel Pableo for The National

More wet weather is expected this week, particularly in the Northern Emirates. Ruel Pableo for The National

A cyclist struggles to make progress on a flooded road. Ruel Pableo for The National

Rain was expected in the UAE on July 27. Ruel Pableo for The National

Bouts of heavy rain made for slippery road conditions for motorists in Sharjah. Ruel Pableo for The National

Khor Fakkan has borne the brunt of much of the stormy weather. Ruel Pableo for The National

A waterlogged road in the mountains. Ruel Pableo for The National

People seek shelter during a downpour. Ruel Pableo for The National

The mountainous area has been lashed by rain. Ruel Pableo for The National

A flooded road in Khor Fakkan. Ruel Pableo for The National

Related: Businesses in Fujairah pick up the pieces and count the cost

A major emergency response effort is well under way after large parts of the Northern Emirates were hit by heavy rain and flash floods.

A summer deluge across Fujairah, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah has brought traffic to a standstill, led to waterlogged roads and road closures, and forced people to leave homes damaged by widespread flooding.

In Fujairah, members of the Ministry of Defence have joined forces with police and civil defence teams to help those affected by the hazardous weather.

The operation also involved officers from Dubai Police playing a part in assisting members of the public caught up in challenging conditions.

In a televised broadcast on Thursday evening, officials said at least 870 people were rescued from flooding and more than 3,800 were placed temporary accommodation.

The weather is expected to stabilise in the coming days.

Footage released by the Ministry of Interior showed a civil defence officer carrying a young child to safety from a flooded property in Fujairah.

The emergency responder is seen placing the child into a rubber dinghy floating in a large pool of standing water outside the family home during the rescue mission.

Hundreds rescued in RAK

Police in Ras Al Khaimah came to the aid of more than 200 motorists stranded in mountains and wadis due to rising water levels.

More than 70 police patrols were on hand to support rescue teams on Thursday.

“More than 200 people whose cars were stuck in high mountains and in valleys and who were trapped by water have been rescued and provided support,” said Maj Gen Ali Al Nuaimi, chief of Ras Al Khaimah Police.

The police's air wing unit flew some caught in flooded areas to safety while police helped others to drive safely out of mountainous areas.

Crews are still working to reach families whose homes were damaged by floods.

“Our teams continue to respond to the rest of the reports that were filed by people to the police’s operations room,” said Maj Gen Al Nuaimi.

“Logistic support in terms of food, water and necessary medical supplies is also provided to those who need them.”

He said more than 1,800 calls had been received by the police operations room since the latest bout of wet weather began.

The National Centre of Meteorology issued a safety alert to those in flood-hit areas of Sharjah and Fujairah.

“Be extremely vigilant: hazardous weather events of exceptional severity are forecast,” it said.

The NCM, the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, and the Ministry of Interior will hold a special briefing on the adverse weather at 4.30pm on Thursday.

Double a year's rainfall in days

Parts of Fujairah have already received more than double the UAE's typical annual rainfall so far this week.

The highest amount of rain was recorded at a National Centre of Meteorology rain gauge in Fujairah Port where 234.9mm of rain fell from 10:30pm on July 25 to 9:18am on Thursday.

The second highest was Masafi — 209.7mm — with the third highest recorded in Fujairah Airport with 187.9mm.

Considering the UAE gets average annual rainfall of about 100mm a year, the statistics underline the severity of the weather.

The NCM forecast the unsettled weather last weekend and told The National on Thursday that similar conditions could be expected for the next few days but probably not to the intensity seen on Wednesday.

“The general situation today [Thursday] is better,” an NCM forecaster said.

“The low pressure systems are slightly weaker with rainfall expected to be of less intensity,” he said. “But we still have low pressure, convective clouds and a chance of rain across the country including Abu Dhabi and Dubai.”

The Ministry of Defence shared images of families being rescued from flooding in Khor Fakkan in the early hours of Thursday.

The government said non-essential public and private sector workers can work from home on Thursday and Friday in flood-affected areas in Fujairah, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.

The decision excludes civil defence, police and emergency responders and those involved in community support to deal with damage to properties.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said nearby hotels should provide accommodation for people who have had to leave their homes.

The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure will draw up a report of the damage caused by the heavy rainfall so that work could start to protect people and property, he added.

In Fujairah, teams used pumps to clear flood waters from main roads to allow traffic to flow, and workers sought to clear blocked drains. The Suhaila Al-Sharjah road to the city of Al Dhaid has been closed until further notice, due to the high level of running water, to ensure the safety of lives and property.

The Ministry of Interior said the safety of people and property is its “top priority” and urged families in flooded areas to stay at home. If they must leave home and drive out of necessity they should “take extreme caution”.

The Ministry of Community Development has also been given the task of accommodating those who have been displaced from their homes by the heavy rains, including those living in high-risk areas.

Those affected will be transferred to temporary shelters and nearby hotels until the weather clears.

Residents seek shelter at hotels

The City Plaza Hotel in Fujairah City received a surge in demand for rooms from residents affected by the floods.

Mohammed Irfan, the receptionist at the hotel, said the property reached maximum occupancy on Wednesday night.

“We had a lot of walk-in customers last night at 9pm to 10pm, when it was raining heavily and the floods became worse,” he said.

“We have 37 rooms and now we are fully booked. Last night, there was a lot of flooding in our area too and a lot of the ways were closed, but now it’s clearer around our hotel.”

Prodyut Sinha, who is in charge of the front office at the Sandy Beach Hotel and Resort in Fujairah, said they received a handful of walk-in customers on Wednesday night.

“People came last night because they needed a place to stay,” he said.

“It was a messy situation yesterday because of the rain. There were also plenty of people who left the hotel yesterday because they couldn’t do any activities.

“It’s more manageable in hotel buildings, but we’re a resort and with this kind of weather it gets difficult.

Hotels in Ras Al Khaimah that spoke to The National said they were operating as normal.

Flooding has affected the Al Nakheel district, a suburb in the emirate, which has only a few hotels.

Workers in civil defence, policy, security services or those involved in responding to crises or emergency services are to work as normal.

Sharjah was hit by flash floods for a second day on Wednesday, with drivers in the emirate battling challenging road conditions.

Large pools of standing water formed on roads in Khor Fakkan after similar scenes the previous day.

The east coast enclave has been lashed by torrential rain that has hit much of the country this week.

On Thursday morning, Sharjah's Roads and Transport Authority urged motorists to avoid using a road in the Daftah area leading to Khor Fakkan except in cases of “extreme necessity”.

It said rocks which had fallen on the road after wadis overflowed were being removed.

The authority later revealed two bus services — the 116 and 611 — which connect the emirate to Fujairah would suspend travel to the eastern regions due to road closures.

Rescue operation in Oman

An air rescue operation was launched in Oman to help more than 130 people left stranded after wadis were flooded during intense rainfall.

Footage shared by Royal Oman Police showed people being taken to safety by helicopter in the Madha area of the country.

Police said all 134 people were in good health and had been transferred to the local airport.

The force said it was continuing to support relief efforts during the hazardous weather.