Dubai flooding: Dramatic photos after UAE sees heaviest rainfall in 75 years

Yahoo News Photo Staff
An abandoned ambulance is submerged in floodwater on a highway in Dubai.
An abandoned ambulance is submerged in floodwater on a highway in Dubai Wednesday. (Christopher Pike/Bloomberg via Getty Images) (Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The United Arab Emirates witnessed its heaviest rainfall in 75 years this week, triggering massive flooding that swept away cars, caused flights to be canceled and left multiple people dead.

Some areas recorded more than 10 inches of rain in less than 24 hours, the state’s media office said in a statement Wednesday — the most since record-keeping began in 1949.

At Dubai International Airport on Tuesday, nearly 4 inches of rain fell over the course of a 12-hour period on Tuesday, or roughly what Dubai usually records in an entire year.

Cars are left submerged in floodwaters after a rainstorm hit Dubai.
Cars are left submerged in floodwaters after a rainstorm hit Dubai on Wednesday. (Rula Rouhana/Reuters) (REUTERS)

Videos posted to social media showed planes moving through several feet of water on the tarmac.

Others showed sinkholes swallowing up cars, water rushing through a mall and someone navigating the floodwaters using a jetski.

Meanwhile, photographers captured dramatic images of cars submerged in floodwaters.

Abandoned vehicles are seen on a flooded highway near the Dubai airport.
Abandoned vehicles on a flooded highway near the Dubai airport on Wednesday. (Christopher Pike/Bloomberg via Getty Images) (Bloomberg via Getty Images)
A driver walks through floodwaters after abandoning his vehicle following a rainstorm.
A driver walks through floodwaters after abandoning his vehicle following a rainstorm in Dubai on Wednesday. (Christopher Pike/Bloomberg via Getty Images) (Bloomberg via Getty Images)
An abandoned SUV is seen submerged in floodwaters in Dubai.
An abandoned SUV is submerged in floodwaters in Dubai Wednesday. (Jon Gambrell/AP) (AP)
A man clings to a fence as he walks through floodwaters in Dubai.
A man clings to a fence as he walks through floodwaters in Dubai Wednesday. (Jon Gambrell/AP) (AP)
Abandoned vehicles are seen submerged in floodwaters on a major road in Dubai.
Abandoned vehicles submerged in floodwaters on a major road in Dubai Wednesday. (Jon Gambrell/AP) (AP)
A man sits in a semitruck stuck in floodwater in Dubai.
A man sits in a semitruck stuck in floodwater in Dubai Wednesday. (Jon Gambrell/AP) (AP)
Cars are seen abandoned on a flooded street in Dubai.
Abandoned cars on a flooded street in Dubai Tuesday. (Abdel Hadi Ramahi/Reuters) (REUTERS)

The deluge was also deadly. A 70-year-old man died after flooding swept away his vehicle in Ras Al-Khaimah, police said, and at least 18 people were killed in nearby Oman.

A highway is flooded after a rainstorm in Dubai.
A highway is flooded after a rainstorm in Dubai on Wednesday. (Christopher Pike/Bloomberg via Getty Images) (Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Extreme rainfall events are becoming more and more common due to climate change, which has increased the amount of moisture in the atmosphere, helping intensify the downpours.

An abandoned ambulance submerged in floodwater on a highway in Dubai.
An abandoned ambulance submerged in floodwater on a highway in Dubai Wednesday. (Christopher Pike/Bloomberg via Getty Images) (Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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