The severe storms which affect the United Arab Emirates they threw in one day at Dubai 1.5 times the amount of water it normally receives in a whole year.

Between Monday night and Tuesday night, a day when the bad weather worsened, Dubai received 142 mm of raincorresponding to 142 liters of water per square meter, according to data collected at the weather station of the international airport.

In the average year, this particular station records a total rainfall of 94.7 millimeters, as reported by the Associated Press.

Torrential rains caused scenes of panic among “uneducated” Emirati residents, with water accumulating in metro stations and wide avenues and people fleeing their homes even in inflatable boats.

Stranded travelers at airport

Worst storms in 25 yearsaccording to local authorities, also caused huge problems at the luxury international airport, which is a hub for travelers between Asia and Europe.

Dubai airport on Wednesday morning asked travelers to travel there “only if absolutely necessary”, while flights continued to be canceled or diverted to other airports.

It is still unclear when normal operations will be restored, with airport management noting in a post on X that conditions are “very difficult”. The Reuters agency reports that there is a serious problem in the movement of airline crews to the airport.

So far there is no official tally of dead or injured, although there are unconfirmed reports of at least one dead being swept away by rapids.

Heavy rains also hit neighboring Oman, where at least 18 people died, according to AP.