Heavy rains hit Dubai and disrupt flights, tolls increase in Oman

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Heavy rain lashed the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday (local time), flooding parts of major highways and leaving vehicles abandoned on Dubai roads.

Meanwhile, the death toll in other heavy flooding in neighboring Oman rose to 18 and others remain missing as the sultanate braced for the storm.

The rains began overnight, leaving huge puddles on the streets as strong winds disrupted flights at Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel and home to long-haul airline Emirates.

By night, more than 120 millimeters of rain had drenched the city-state – a typical yearly average for the desert nation – and more was expected in the coming hours.