GCC wet weather: Oman flooding leaves child dead, UAE issues rain alert

Oman continued to issue weather warnings on Tuesday as police said a child had died after a vehicle carrying multiple passengers was swept away in floodwaters, while GCC neighbor the UAE has issued its own rain alert as downpours struck the capital.

On social media platform X, Royal Oman Police said the child was one of five people in a car which had been swept away amid a summer deluge and heavy rains in the northern parts of the country, in the Wadi Andam stream on the Azki-Sinaw road. Four other passengers were taken to Ibra Reference Hospital.

In a separate incident Royal Oman Police said police aviation crews have carried out a rescue operation to rescue two people who were trapped after they were swept away in Wadi Bani Hani in the Wilayat of Rustaq.
It urged residents to be careful and not to risk crossed rain-stricken valleys.

Oman Meteorology on X warned of further heavy rain to be expected across the north of Oman throughout Tuesday.

In the UAE, “moderate to heavy rain” rain was also reported across the capital of Abu Dhabi on Tuesday morning, according to the country’s National Center of Meteorology (NCM). It said on X that moderate rains were also reported over Al Ain and the Al Dhafra region.

It urged motorists in the capital to avoid driving “unless absolute necessary” and, if necessary, to drive with caution and remain vigilant at all times.

The wet weather comes four months after intense rains that lashed the UAE and Oman, causing deaths and widespread flooding. The storm first landed in Oman on April 14, killing at least 21 people in flash floods and other incidents, according to the official Oman News Agency. It later hit the UAE on April 16, dumping nearly two years’ worth of rain that flooded homes, roads, malls and offices.

Financial hub Dubai faced severe disruption for days with major roads blocked by floods, power outages and some residents trapped in their homes.