RAK Ruler orders Dh9m in compensation for flood victims

Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah issues directive over financial aid in wake of recent storms

Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates - April 14, 2019: Flooding after a heavy night of rain in Ras Al Khaimah. Sunday the 14th of April 2019. Nakheel, Ras Al Khaimah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Powered by automated translation

A total of Dh9 million will be handed out to people in Ras Al Khaimah whose property was damaged after storms caused widespread flooding this month.

The order for compensation came from Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, who on Monday said the money was part of efforts to support families who were struggling to repair their cars and homes.

Immediately after the heavy rains, a committee was established to assess the damage by carrying out field visits and speaking to residents. The announcement on Monday was based on their report.

This month, rain and hail accompanied by strong winds were reported across the country. Temperatures dropped so low that snow fell on Jebel Jais.

An Emirati father of two told The National at the time that he and his sons were forced to leave their home in Al Fahlen due to the flooding.

Khaled bin Khamsoun, a 42, said he tried to prevent the water from coming inside his house using clothes and rugs but the water flow was too strong.

He had to leave his wife and children at home while he rescued his mother and two sisters from their house.

Eventually the family were able to move somewhere else with the help of his brother, who drove up from Abu Dhabi.

“This is the first time to witness such amounts of rain in 40 years, it is unbelievable,” he said.

The extreme weather also led to the death of a woman in Ras Al Khaimah, after a wall collapsed on her.

The maid was believed to be working in a home in Al Fahlen when a wall toppled under the force of a flash flood.

Police in the emirate were involved in a search-and-rescue mission for a worker swept away in the floods in Wadi Sham. His body was found a few days later in Oman.

About 120 families in Ras Al Khaimah were forced to flee their homes due to the rain.