Over 20 houses flooded with seawater in Kalba, families evacuated

Ahmed Shaaban /Sharjah

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com Filed on October 31, 2019 | Last updated on October 31, 2019 at 05.35 am

Kalba, floods, rain, high tide, Cyclone Kyarr, Cyclone, rain, weather

(Photo by Shihab/KT)

The affected families were taken to hotels.

Over 20 houses in the Al Bardi area of the Kalba City's eastern region were flooded badly due to the tropical Cyclone Kyarr over the Arabian Sea.

The strong winds have caused the high waves to flood the roads with seawater, affecting several houses in the area.

The authorities have evacuated the affected families to several hotels, and provided them with food and other needs, while the power was disconnected from their houses to avoid any fire or electrocution risk.

According to sources, the flooded roads have made it impossible for vehicles to move as their engines ran the risk of getting filled with seawater, while some public and private schools have sent their students back home for fear of worsening weather.

Abdullah Saleh, an Emirati from Kalba City, told Khaleej Times that several roads were entirely flooded with seawater.

"The Ghadfaa road, Merbeh road, Al Mezallat road, Al Raghilat road, Kalba Corniche, Al Nakheel road, Al Lualueya road are some of the worst affected roads," he said.

Some restaurant carts, hotels, and tourist facilities were also flooded.

Mohamed Abdullah, another Emirati from Kalba City, said he was shocked when the seawater flooded his house.

"I could not help moving all the furniture to other rooms, while the authorities concerned have moved the family to apartment houses."

Abdullah Rashid, an Emirati from Al Baradi area, said he preferred to stay home despite the floods.

"The front courtyard of my house was partially flooded with water, but still the family managed to stay in after the authorities installed concrete barriers in front of my house to prevent the seawater from flooding my house."

Eng Mohammed Al Afkham, Director of Fujairah Municipality, said the civic bodies across the Eastern Region have deployed all their tankers and pumping machines to drain out all the accumulated seawater. "Barriers have also been fitted to prevent the seawater from flooding the houses and outlets here."

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com