Heavy rains hit UAE as 18 people lose lives in Oman after flooding

Death and disruption have been caused by heavy rains in the Gulf region, as ten school children lost their lives in Oman after their vehicle was swept away by a flood Sunday.

When the driver attempted to cross an overflowing wadi in Al-Mudaybi, Sharqiyah, before a strong current dragged the vehicle into an overflowing torrent of water, the children, aged between 10 and 15, were travelling on a bus with four other minors.

Nine of the dead children were recovered Sunday while a tenth child's body was discovered the following day, according to The New Arab.

While eight more people were killed in flooding elsewhere in the Sultanate, four children and the driver of the vehicle were rescued by civil defence workers.

This makes the total death toll soar to 18 as a result of flash flooding in Oman.

During heavy rain each year, Oman's usually dry wadis become deadly fast-flowing streams.

However, people still drown each year even though Omani authorities frequently advise the public to avoid these valleys during rainy seasons.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent their condolences to Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al-Said and the families of the deceased, reported Saudi Press Agency.

On the other hand, heavy rains continued to lash the UAE Tuesday, flooding major highways and leaving vehicles abandoned on roads across Dubai.

The rains that began to fall overnight continued to leave massive ponds on streets as whipping winds disrupted flights at Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international travel and the home of the long-haul carrier Emirates.