Heaviest rainfall in 75 years; many expatriates forced to leave their apartments

DUBAI: It is one of the worst ever rainfalls to have hit the desert land of UAE. Hundreds of people had to take shelter in airports, malls, metro stations and even in vehicles to avoid any catastrophe. Constant power disruption, water logging in residential buildings, and scant availability of drinking water added to the worries. And now, many expatriates are left with no option but to leave their apartments after the floods left many buildings in the region tilted; raising concerns among the people living there.

Hundreds of families living in a high-rise building in Muhaisnah, Dubai, were evacuated after officials confirmed a small tilt in the building. According to locals, it was akin to an earthquake as they felt the building suddenly leaning to one side.

According to residents, the water is still seen in the basement of the apartment, even five days after the rain subsided. Many vehicles are still floating in the water. The rains that started last Monday intensified in Dubai and Sharjah by Tuesday. Flight services were suspended while many were diverted to other destinations.

Water also entered Dubai Mall and the Mall of Emirates. Traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai's main highway, came to a standstill for hours.