'Disaster zone': Dubai residents grapple with aftermath of historic rainstorm

Emergency workers tried to clear water-clogged roads and people assessed the damage to homes and businesses on Thursday, after a rare rainstorm swamped the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The rains were the heaviest experienced by the Gulf state in the 75 years that records have been kept. They brought much of the country to a standstill and caused significant damage.

Flooding trapped residents in traffic, offices and homes. Many reported leaks at their homes, while footage circulated on social media showed malls overrun with water pouring from roofs.

While some roadways into hard-hit communities remain flooded, many groceries began to restock shelves, though fresh products still appeared in shorter supply than usual.

"It's the worst I've ever seen it in Dubai and we've seen some bad storms in the past, but this was like nothing else. It was like an alien invasion. The sky just kept on flashing thunder non-stop," UAE resident Johnathan Richards said.

"Everywhere is a disaster zone," he added.

#Floods #Dubai #UAE

[starcrib]

Cloud seeding- and pouring concrete over every conceivable inch of land- like something from 1970's American urban planning. Dubai- The place is a joke.

[georgesimon]

The Bugatti's and Ferrari's will have trouble getting around. So sad, too bad

[billbradley]

They paid for cloud seeding and got rain. You get what you pay for.

[ChildrenoftheCorny]

You can fudge the aesthetic of a hole in the sand. But it’s still just a hole in the sand.

Thats what you get for cloud seeding, quit messing with nature

[ZenCorvus]

Cloud seeding. Environmentalists did this.

[ABNDT]

It's called "over seeding" the clouds GoebbelsNews, try doing some journalism.

[joet]

Let this be a lesson to the people that think that cloud seeding and playing God with Mother Nature is a good idea. The citizens of Dubai should be suing the corporation that conducted the cloud seeding operations

[shelleyfortier]

That’s what happens when you mess with Mother Nature

[garrettjames]

Yeah and look it up they used cloud seeding it's not a conspiracy

[reecom]

With all of the high rise building and limited sewer/storm water drainage, the floodwaters in the streets would like walking in a cesspool of human waste!

[sonkefh]

Rain in the desert is wonderful for the nature.

[annette]

The clouds were seeded by the government

[hilarymiseroy]

I wouldn't want to be one of the people to sort out the septic tanks the hotels have in their basements.

[ronbelanger]

Same country that has to truck human waste away as they do not spend on infrastructure.

[atomixfang]

They literally brought it upon themselves. Cloud seeding.

[SelfMotivate]

You mean Dubai couldn't pay the storm to stop?

[joelpritchard]

OMG THIS IS AWFUL PRAYING FOR ALL OF THEM

[petermoyse]

I live in Dubai, behind Mall of the Emirates in Al Barsha. The roads are still flooded to knee depth. Basement car parks are totally submerged. Sidewalks are collapsing into the ground. The standing water is starting to smell bad as the temperatures were hot today. The Dubai authorities just can't cope. They don't know what to do. This will take weeks to clear-up. It IS a disaster for Dubai. In a few days, this will be one hell of a stinking city.

[Mydudisearth]

I was in my house and for some reason open my window from the hotel and there’s too much lightning means mother of storms on Sharjah Street was off and it broke the road on the highway