A woman was crushed to death after a wall collapsed during fierce storms in Ras Al Khaimah, police said.
The African maid was believed to be working in a house in the Al Fahlain on Saturday when the wall toppled under the force of severe flash floods.
Police in the emirate also launched a search-and-rescue mission for a worker swept away in the floods in Waadi Shaam.
About 120 families in Ras Al Khaimah were forced to flee their homes as torrential rain left a trail of destruction.
Major Gen Ali Al Nuaimi, commander-in-chief of Ras Al Khaimah Police, said the stricken families had been given shelter at hotels and other accommodations.
“Police efforts are still ongoing to deal with the reports regarding damages caused by overflowing valleys across the emirate,” he said.
He urged the public to stay at home during the unstable weather conditions and avoid travelling on roads near valleys and mountains.
Khaled bin Khamsoun, a father of two boys, aged nine and six, made a dash for safety with his family when water flowed into their home in Al Fahlen on Saturday morning.
“The water started to come down from the mountains into our house at 10am,” said the 42-year-old.
“We started to gather all the clothes and rugs to place it in front of the doors and windows to prevent the water from coming into the house but the water flow was very strong and uncontrollable.
“My wife and two kids were scared at that time and I told them to stay on the bed away from the water.
“I had to leave them and go to my mother’s house to bring my mother and two sisters to stay with us until we found a way out of the area, as both of my cars were swept away by the floods."
He said that many families fled their homes on Saturday but not all managed to register with the police to get a hotel room.
Mr bin Khamsoun said that he had to wait for his brother who travelled from Abu Dhabi to relocate the family and move them to a safe place.
“When my brother arrived he immediately moved us to our sister’s house in Al Kharan as the registration to get a hotel room was closed by then,” said Mr bin Khamsoun.
“This is the first time to witness such amounts of rain in 40 years, it is unbelievable.”
“We are still at my sister’s house and we don't know when it will be safe to go back home.”
An air rescue operation was launched in Al Ain as flooding caused major disruption in the area.
A National Search and Rescue Centre helicopter was deployed in Wadi Ghashabah after two men were trapped by the high levels of water on Saturday morning.
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A municipal worker drains flood waters close to Ibn Battuta and Discovery Gardens on Sunday. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Signs were blown down across the city. Ruel Pableo for The National -
A driver tries to drain water from his car near Ibn Battuta mall. Ruel Pableo for The National -
An abandoned car sits in flood water near the low-lying Discovery Gardens, one of the worst-hit areas. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Drivers were caught out by sudden downpours for a third day in a row on Sunday, with many getting stuck. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Motorists appear to have abandoned their vehicles in this image from Ibn Battuta. Ruel Pableo for The National -
A rainbow appears among the clouds in Abu Dhabi. Talib Jariwala / The National -
Cloudy weather once again around the Corniche area in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari for The National -
High winds caused damage to many buildings, including this one in Abu Dhabi's Tourist Club area. Khushnum Bhandari for The National -
Dark clouds over the skyline of Dubai with Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. AFP -
The sign for Last Exit food truck park in Jebel Ali was torn by high winds. Ruel Pableo for The National -
So was this advert for Nakheel properties on Sheikh Zayed Road. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Torn billboards flutter in high winds on Sheikh Zayed Road on Sunday. Ruel Pableo for The National -
The low-lying Jebel Ali area is particularly badly hit. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Flooding at a car park by lorries and buses in Jebel Ali on Sunday morning. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Municipality workers use a pump at a waterlogged road in Internet City on Sunday. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Roads around Internet City were waterlogged after a fresh downpour about 7.30am on Sunday. Ruel Pableo -
Commuters head to work through Discovery Gardens. Ruel Pableo for The National -
A municipality worker clearing debris in Discovery Gardens. Ruel Pableo foir The National -
Rain clouds loom over the road to Abu Dhabi at 7am on Sunday morning. Commuters were hit with patches of driving rain from about 8am. Suhail Rather / The National -
Municipal workers attempt to clear a flooded tunnel in Sharjah on Sunday morning. Courtesy: Sharjah Municipality -
The National Center for Search and Rescue said the first rescue mission took place on Saturday morning when they received a report about two men being trapped due to flash floods in Wadi Ghashabah. A helicopter was immediately dispatched to the site where the two men, of Sudanese nationality, were found clinging to a tree about 50 meters away from the Wadi banks. The rescue team managed to airlift the men and take them to safety. Courtesy NSRC -
Flooding on Al Ishoush St, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
Flooding on Al Ishoush St, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
Overcast skies over Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
Commuters battle high water along the Al Manara and Beach road intersection. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Heavy rains in Dubai during the night caused extensive flooding at intersections within the city. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Commuters battle high water along the Al Manara and Beach road intersection. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Water is logged outside the Movenpick Ibn Batutta Gate Hotel from heavy overnight rain. James O'Hara / The National -
Water is logged outside the Movenpick Ibn Batutta Gate Hotel from heavy overnight rain. James O'Hara / The National -
Traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road going to Abu Dhabi. Ramola Talwar / The National -
Traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road going to Abu Dhabi. Ramola Talwar / The National -
A car drives through a waterlogged road near Al Bateen airport. Scott Walker -
A delivery van struggles to navigate flood waters near Al Bateen airport in Abu Dhabi on Saturday about 9am. Courtesy: Scott Walker -
A man sweeps water from the running track along Kite Beach. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Residents of The Greens enjoy their morning walk in the early drizzle. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Barsha Heights saw a medium amount of flooding that still proved challenging to morning commuters. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Barsha Heights saw a medium amount of flooding that still proved challenging to morning commuters. Antonie Robertson / The National -
A municipality worker supervises water being pumped from flooding along the roads near Kite Beach. Antonie Robertson / The National -
A waiter at Burts in The Greens sweeps away some water to get ready for the business day. Antonie Robertson/The National -
Residents of The Greens get out their umbrellas today for their morning walk. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Flooding in Barsha Heights. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Residents of The Greens get out their umbrellas today for their morning walk. Antonie Robertson / The National -
The Greens saw heavy rain that left the streets wet. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Residents of The Greens enjoy their morning walk in the early drizzle. Antonie Robertson / The National -
A municipality worker supervises water being pumped from flooding along the roads near Kite Beach. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Parking areas in the Discovery Gardens area in Dubai were inundated with water and residents raced to get their cars to safer spots following heavy overnight rainfall on Saturday. Courtesy: Antonie Abreu -
Flooding in Discovery Gardens. Courtesy: Antonio Abreu
The Sudanese men were found clinging to a tree by the rescue crew who swooped to their aid and airlifted them to safety.
The second rescue operation took place at about 3pm when the centre received a call about an Emirati man and his wife who were marooned by floods after their car got stuck in a wadi located in Al Bateen area.
The helicopter was able to land on the small island in the middle of the Wadi where they were trapped and the team managed to fly them to safety.
