20-4-2024 (MANILA) In a devastating turn of events, three migrant workers from the Philippines have tragically lost their lives amid the catastrophic flooding that has gripped the United Arab Emirates. As the desert nation grapples with the aftermath of record-shattering rainfall, the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers has confirmed the heartbreaking news.
Two women, caught in the unrelenting deluge, suffocated within their vehicle while stranded in the floodwaters that inundated Dubai – the first confirmed fatalities from the floods to strike the city. A third victim, a man, met his untimely demise when his vehicle plunged into a sinkhole in the emirate of Sharjah, a grim testament to the sheer force of nature unleashed.
These tragic incidents have brought the death toll to at least four, following the earlier report of a 70-year-old man who was swept away in his vehicle in Ras Al-Khaimah, one of the oil-rich Gulf state’s seven emirates.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers said, “The two females died due to suffocation inside their vehicle during the flooding. The third victim died due to major injuries sustained from an accident when his vehicle fell into a sinkhole at the height of the flooding.”
The storms that have ravaged the UAE and Bahrain began on Tuesday, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Prior to striking the Gulf region, the same weather system had already wrought havoc in Oman, where flash floods and landslides claimed the lives of at least 21 people, including several schoolchildren, according to official media reports.
Dubai, the Middle East’s financial powerhouse, has borne the brunt of the rainfall, which has been the heaviest recorded in 75 years. The city’s airport, a global hub for international travellers, has been forced to cancel more than 1,000 flights, while roads remain submerged and littered with abandoned vehicles, even as Friday dawns.
