UAE: Heavy rains, strong winds damage vehicles, home gardens

As strong winds and heavy rains lashed parts of UAE over the last few days, some residents faced damage to vehicles and property.

On Friday, Mohammed Sajjad was driving by the Al Hayar area in Abu Dhabi with his family when strong winds and heavy rain forced him to pull over to the side of the road. As the winds gathered pace, a signpost fell over on his car.

“We had been driving for a bit, but the rain became really strong and almost impossible to drive,” he said. “So, we pulled over and waited for almost two hours. Once the wind quieted down, we were just preparing to leave when the signpost fell without any warning. My leg was on the accelerator. If it had fallen even two seconds later, it would have smashed through my windscreen. My wife and my son got really scared. I am now trying to get the insurance sorted for it.”

Several parts of the country have been facing inclement weather since Friday. Sandstorms, hail, heavy rain and strong winds hit many emirates causing severe damages. Some traders in several parts of the country lost stocks and suffered structural damages to their shops due to the heavy winds.

This video posted by @stormcenter shows shopkeepers in Sharjah struggling to stop their goods, including suitcases from being flown away by the wind.

Sharjah resident Tayyaba shared this photo of shops that had suffered several damages including shattered glass

Residents have praised the swift response of authorities to ensure that the damages are fixed. Early today morning, Dubai municipality workers were out and about the emirate removing fallen trees and other hazards. In other emirates, workers round the clock to clear debris and assist those who had suffered damage to property.

Damaged Gardens

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