By Kaitlin Junod
Rabat - Heavy rain in Qatar this Wednesday revealed structural weakness in the country that is to host the 2022 World Cup. Within mere hours, the Qatar was hit with more than a year’s worth of rainfall, flooding the streets and forcing schools and stores to close.
At Hamad International Airport, water poured through passenger terminals. The airport was just opened last year, about six year behind schedule. The Sheraton Hotel met a similar fate, while at the Ezdan Mall a whole section of the ceiling collapsed beneath the deluge, reported BBC.
Following the downpour, Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani ordered an investigation, calling for authorities to bring companies behind the country’s “flawed projects” before the public prosecutor. At least five companies will be subject to inquiry, though their identities are undisclosed at this time.
Doha News reported that the city received 80mm of rain from mid-Tuesday to Wednesday afternoon, while the yearly average rainfall is about 74mm. Between 6 am and 3 pm Wednesday, paramedics responded to 250 emergency calls and road traffic collisions.
For the 2022 World Cup, Qatar is expected to complete more than $200 billion in infrastructure projects. The country has already reduced the number of stadiums to be built from 12 to eight due to expenses, according to BBC. Human rights groups have criticized the country for abuses against migrant workers in Qatar.
Photo: © carolyn_redaelli / Instagram
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