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Journalism of Courage
Heavy rain lashed the United Arab Emirates on April 16, with ‘Khatm Al Shakla’ in Al Ain recording a rainfall as high as 254 millimetres in a single day – the heaviest since 1949, setting a 75-year record. Despite warnings advising people to work remotely due to anticipated severe weather, many underestimated the intensity of the downpour.
User @zarnab.laashari who opted to venture out despite the warnings, documented the swiftly changing weather conditions and shared the video on Instagram with the caption, “Never have I been more scared in my life”. In his post, he explained he had set out with clear skies but the journey quickly turned treacherous as visibility plummeted with the intensifying downpour.
Watch the video below:
“I documented the rapidly changing weather conditions on my commute to work, securely mounting my phone on the car’s dashboard. Although the weather was clear when I left home, visibility deteriorated rapidly as the downpour intensified,” the user wrote.
The rapid onset of such heavy rain left many unprepared, despite their familiarity with occasional showers in the region. However, a collective effort among drivers to exercise caution—using hazard lights and reducing speed—helped mitigate potential accidents.
He also thanked the swift response and assistance from UAE authorities in aiding recovery efforts and ensuring the safety of everyone affected.
Although the storm eventually subsided and life returned to normalcy within 48 hours, the community felt the profound impact of the deluge.
The video has definitely left social media shocked to say the least. One user wrote, “At least everyone slowed down and used their flashers.” Another user added, “To all the people who think they’re having it worse in their own country, the point is in Dubai people never have faced this weather so they have zero experience of what they’re gonna deal with.” And a third user commented on the video saying, “I swear this kind of weather is the most fun to drive in. I just hope everyone remained safe.”
