2022 United Arab Emirates floods explained

2022 United Arab Emirates floods
Date:27 July 2022
Damages: 1 million AED
Fatalities:7
Cause:Heavy rains
Areas Affected:Kalba, Fujairah and the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah

In 2022, heavy rains caused floods in the United Arab Emirates, lasting from 26 to 29 July 2022.[1] Cities of the northern Emirates, mainly Kalba and Fujairah, and different areas of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, were affected by the heavy rains. According to the Emirati National Center for Meteorology, this was the country's heaviest rainfall recorded in 27 years.[2] [3] [4]

Impact

Seven people of Asian descent were confirmed dead.[5] At least 870 people were rescued while 3,897 individuals were placed in temporary shelters in Fujairah and Sharjah.[5]

Traders in the Emirate of Fujairah lost nearly AED 1 million worth of goods.[6]

Response

Emirati Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid issued a red alert in the state and directed immediate relief operations from police, rescue services, and military personnel from nearby emirates to assist in rescue operations. All hotels in Fujairah were instructed to shelter flood-affected families in their vacant rooms. The administration has also issued instructions to people to work from home for two days.[7]

Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, ruler of Sharjah, ordered AED 50,000 ($13,600) to be given to every family forced to leave their home during flooding.[8]

Notes and References

  1. News: UAE floods: Businesses in Fujairah pick up the pieces and count the cost. The National. 30 July 2022.
  2. Web site: Floods in UAE: Non-stop rainfall breaks 27-year record. Nandini. Sircar. Khaleej Times. 29 July 2022. 29 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220729174412/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/floods-in-uae-non-stop-rainfall-breaks-27-year-record. live.
  3. Web site: UAE: Two major roads closed in wake of floods. Web. Desk. Khaleej Times. 29 July 2022. 29 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220729174418/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/transport/uae-two-major-roads-closed-in-wake-of-floods. live.
  4. Web site: Watch: Authorities, emergency teams and volunteers join hands to rescue people from rain-affected areas in UAE. gulfnews.com. 29 July 2022. 29 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220729174409/https://gulfnews.com/uae/government/watch-authorities-emergency-teams-and-volunteers-join-hands-to-rescue-people-from-rain-affected-areas-in-uae-1.89569438. live.
  5. Web site: Gokulan . Dhanusha . Zakir . SM Ayaz . Nasreen . Abdulla . UAE: Seven expats found dead after floods, say authorities . 29 July 2022 . Khaleej Times . en . 29 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220729174412/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-six-expats-found-dead-after-floods-say-authorities . live .
  6. Web site: Zakir . SM Ayaz . 'We were too late': Fujairah traders lose goods worth nearly Dh1 million in flooding . 29 July 2022 . Khaleej Times . en . 29 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220729174430/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/we-were-too-late-fujairah-traders-lose-goods-worth-nearly-dh1-million-in-flooding . live .
  7. Web site: Watch: Fujairah Crown Prince conducts aerial survey of affected areas, as heavy rains batter UAE. Khaleej Times. 29 July 2022. 29 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220729174415/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/emergencies/heavy-rain-in-uae-fujairah-crown-prince-conducts-aerial-survey-of-affected-areas. live.
  8. Web site: Sharjah Ruler to give Dh50,000 to families affected by flash floods. The National. 8 August 2022.