Landslides after heavy rain in UAE blamed on higher level roads

Ras Al Khaimah - When it rains, the water falls on the roads, and then slides to the parallel lower-level lands.

While Ras Al Khaimah has seen a number of landslides following the recent heavy showers, the authorities here have blamed these to the imbalance between these roads and nearby areas.
"The level of these roads, where repetitive landslides were reported, is higher than the lands along them," said Eng Ahmad Ban, General Manager of Works Institution, Department of Public Works.
When it rains, the water falls on the roads, and then slides to the parallel lower-level lands.
"It then infiltrates into the sand and gravel stones on the road side."
The infiltrating water wears away the sides of the roads, leading to their destabilisation and collapse, and finally ending up in the repetitive landslides."
The works institution has run a field survey to identify the reasons behind these repetitive landslides, he stated.
"We have reached very efficient solutions to be implements in the beginning of 2020."
He added that most of the reported landslides were in Al Dheit, Al Shuhada Road, and the area extending between the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road to Al Saedi Road.
"This is due to the high level of the roads at these areas as compared to the nearby lands."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Ras Al Khaimah