720 tonnes of waste cleared in Dubai following weekend storm

Workers remove a billboard from the street. Courtesy Dubai Municipality

DUBAI// Emergency teams were pressed into action at the weekend as strong winds and rainstorms swept the country.

Unusually strong winds toppled a crane on Sheikh Zayed Road and 24 passengers had to be rescued from a rollercoaster at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi after weather conditions forced the ride to abruptly stop.

Despite flying debris and collapsed billboards, Dubai Municipality said the effects of the storm were contained in record time.

Preparations for the rainy season began months in advance, it said, with the cleaning of 72,000 drains, the 195,000 metre pipeline which takes rainwater and maintenance for 59 stormwater drains.

“As an inevitable result of the above, the general storm water network had a good capacity to absorb water easily,” said Talib Julfar, assistant director-general of Dubai Municipality for the Environment and Public Health Services Sector.

He said the damage sustained was a result of the region’s vulnerability to wind.

A spokesman for the NCMS said winds in Dubai reached speeds of 55 kilometres an hour at about 2pm, with gusts of up to 75kph.

Mr Julfar said the winds blew over metal sheets used to protect construction sites, causing wooden batons and boards to scatter.

About 240 trees were uprooted across the emirate.

“Some waterfronts were affected by rough seas. The high waves came up to the Crescent of Palm Jumeirah area and parts of the Mamzar Beach and some parts of the beaches of Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim,” he said.

“The waste management teams began collecting pieces of solid debris of all kinds from all areas. The city has gotten rid of a total of 720 tonnes of solid waste debris in addition to vacuuming, scraping and collecting nearly 900 tonnes of sand,” Mr Julfar said.

On Monday, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, honoured safety personnel from the private sector who helped tackle the fire caused by the crane collapse on Sheikh Zayed Road.