UAE floods: seven found dead after wettest weather in decades

Thousands given temporary shelter as major clean-up operation continues

Volunteers from the community service group Takatof sweep debris from a road, after the floods in Fujairah. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Takatof volunteers carry the collected debris away with a wheelbarrow. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Municipality workers drain water from a flooded road in Fujairah. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

The volunteers work on another part of the road. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Workers pump floodwaters from the roads into tankers in Fujairah city. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Life was returning to normal in the emirate, on Saturday. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A vehicle surrounded by floodwaters. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Receding floodwaters in Fujairah city. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Eminence Private School surrounded by water after heavy rains in Fujairah. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Authorities are continuing with a clean-up operation in the city. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Waterlogged streets in Fujairah. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Sadaf Resturant during a clean-up and renovations after the floods. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A waterlogged street in Kalba. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Residents Tarikul Alauddin and Mojammel Ali, from Bangladesh, outside their house in Kalba, which was heavily damaged by flooding and left with no electricity. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Property belonging to Wali Said, from Pakistan, inside his flooded home in Kalba. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Abdelbasit Hassan's home and car (not pictured) were damaged by the heavy rainfall in Kalba. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Tahidul Islam, from Bangladesh, sweeps out dirty water after the floods in Kalba subsided. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Municipality workers clean up an area affected by floods in Fujairah. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Staff at a restaurant scoop up water surrounding the premises in Fujairah. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Lorries slowly make their way on a heavily flooded road in the city. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A car swept into a ditch by floodwaters in Fujairah. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A construction vehicle partially submerged on a street in the city. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

People walk across pools of water. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A vehicle stalled by heavy rain and floodwaters in Fujairah on Friday. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A flooded area in Fujairah city. Photo: Fujairah Media Office

Jama Al Ghurfa Mosque on Fujairah's corniche surrounded by floodwaters. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Vehicles on a waterlogged road in the city. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A food and entertainment area surrounded by water in Fujairah, after days of rain. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Vehicles partially submerged on the streets of the city. Photo: Mahesh Jangam / @MaheshMj80202 / Twitter

A stalled minibus on a street in Fujairah. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A flooded shop on the corniche in Fujairah. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Drivers navigate a flooded motorway in Fujairah. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Floodwaters surround a leisure and entertainment area in Fujairah. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Towers in Fujairah city surrounded by floodwaters. Photo: Mahesh Jangam / @MaheshMj80202 / Twitter

A dam in the emirate of Fujairah overflows. Photo: Fujairah Media Office

A car makes its way through floodwaters . Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Seven people have been found dead, as authorities continued a major clean-up operation on Friday after the UAE recorded its heaviest rainfall in 30 years.

More than 800 people were rescued and thousands more placed in temporary accommodation in Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah after a summer deluge led to widespread flooding.

“We regret to announce that six people of Asian nationalities have been found dead as a result of the floods that took place in these emirates,” Brig Gen Dr Ali Salem Al Tunaiji, director general of the Ministry of Interior's Federal Central Operations, said on Friday.

A later statement from the ministry said a seventh Asian resident had been found dead following a search operation. The ministry added that evacuation efforts in affected emirates continue.

“Field units are still carrying out evacuations in some of these [Fujairah, Sharjah and RAK] areas,” Brig Gen Al Tunaiji said. “There are also shelters for some individuals whose homes have been exposed to floods.

“The good thing is that nearly 80 per cent of individuals whose homes have been affected by the flood have returned for the past two days. There are some roads that have been opened between affected areas in the UAE. There is only a main road linking Fujairah and Khor Fakkan city. Work is under way, [and] within a short period of time this road will be reopened.”

The National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (Ncema) said on Thursday that 20 hotels in those areas have the capacity to house an additional 1,885 people, if needed.

The weather has eased in Fujairah but large pools of standing water are still a challenge for motorists.

As residents hope for the calm after the storm, efforts will continue to clear flooded roads, repair damaged properties and return people to their homes.

Emergency response teams have been working non-stop to assist people affected by the hazardous conditions.

Hundreds were rescued from overflowing wadis in Ras Al Khaimah, while Dubai Police were drafted in to support relief efforts in Fujairah.

Images released by authorities showed rescue teams taking children and pets to safety as homes were overwhelmed by flash floods.

Officials assured the public that emergency and clean-up teams are working around the clock to help those in the most flood-affected areas.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, the Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and chairman of the Emirates Red Crescent, instructed the ERC and its centres across the country to provide all forms of logistical and field support to Emirati teams supporting those affected by the rain, in addition to putting the authority’s workers and volunteers on standby.

He also directed the authority’s teams to be placed under the command of the relevant authorities, assess the situation on the ground and develop plans for evacuation, shelter and psychological support, as well as provide the humanitarian needs of those affected whenever necessary.

ERC field teams have been present since Wednesday in the affected areas in the Northern Emirates to provide the necessary support and assistance.

More rain but conditions to ease

There is expected to be more rain in the Northern Emirates on Friday, but it is believed the worst of the weather has now passed.

The unsettled weather is expected to continue into next week at least. The NCM has forecast strong winds, dust clouds and a chance of rain until Monday.

“We expect a chance of rain over the next few days, especially in the east, as the low-pressure systems are still active,” an NCM forecaster told The National on Thursday.

“But we don’t anticipate falls of rain like yesterday.”