When Cars Became Traps In UAE Floods, Residents Abandon Vehicles For Their Safety

The torrential rain which battered the UAE on Monday transformed roads into rivers and trapped residents in broken-down cars.

With no other option, people were compelled to abandon their vehicles, facing the heart-wrenching dilemma of prioritizing their safety or holding onto their cars as the floodwaters surged.

"I watched helplessly as the water level kept rising, submerging my car," said Hadi Akbari, a resident of Al Nahda, tears welling in his eyes. "It felt like watching a part of myself being swept away." Khaleej Times quoted Hadi Akbari, a resident of Al Nahda, as saying. "It felt like watching a part of myself being swept away."

Akbari told the publication that it was a long-time dream to purchase a 2012 limited edition Nissan Patrol Safari for his off-roading escapades.

"I bought it a month ago and with the current scenario, I fear even looking at it," said Akbari. He claimed that he is not sure about the extent of the damage his car had endured.

Caught in a harrowing ordeal, Indian resident Thomas Alexander faced a nightmarish situation as relentless rain battered the city on Monday. With his car ensnared in the escalating floodwaters, Thomas remained inside, clinging to dwindling hopes of rescue. As water infiltrated the vehicle, saturating the seats and creeping higher, Thomas came to the realization that time was slipping away, and his safety teetered on the edge.

"As a person with diabetes, I was very concerned about my health. And it was getting cold. I didn't actually think about the car at the moment. Getting my medication was my only thought," he told the daily.

Many people left their vehicles parked by the roadside and opted to abandon them, seeking refuge on higher ground for safety. Among them was Sheikha M, an Emirati residing in Dubai, who faced a challenging choice.

She found herself engulfed by panic and fear as the floodwaters surged around her vehicle. It didn't take long for her to realize that remaining inside the car could potentially be life-threatening.

Sheikha said: "The water was rising, and it was raining heavily, and I felt trapped. I knew I had to get out,"

"It was heartbreaking for me to leave behind my car," she added. "But in the face of the relentless floods, my safety and the safety of others became my utmost concern. It was a difficult choice, but I knew it was right."

Luck was on her side as she encountered a compassionate family who had also braved the flooded roads. They were travelling in a patrol car equipped to handle the hazardous conditions.

Similarly, Al Muteena resident Justin Cyril abandoned his vehicle on Al Ittihad Road as water entered the vehicle while driving.

"When I accelerated, I could hear just the acceleration sound, and the car did not move forward. That was the time I felt, I have to park it on the road side. It was raining relentlessly at around 4pm (Tuesday) and I could feel that the water level was rising and the even entered my car," Cyril stated.

The UAE witnessed unprecedented rainfall, with Al Ain, a city on the UAE-Oman border, receiving a staggering 254 mm (10 inches) within a span of less than 24 hours, as reported by the national meteorology center. This marked the highest recorded rainfall since meteorological records began in 1949, predating the formation of the UAE in 1971.

The impact of the intense rainfall persisted into Wednesday, causing road closures and severe disruptions to flight schedules.

Emirates, renowned as one of the world's largest international airlines, halted passenger check-ins for departures from Dubai until midnight. Flydubai, which partially resumed flights in the morning, announced that operations would not fully return to normalcy until after midnight. Additionally, budget carrier Air Arabia suspended check-ins for flights to and from Sharjah until 2 am on Thursday.