Over 200k Pinoys affected by Qatar floods

More than 200,000 Filipinos in Doha, Qatar, were affected by the floods caused by more than a year's worth of rain that fell in a matter of hours Wednesday,  almost bringing the country to a standstill.

 

According to a report on "Balitanghali" on Friday, a Filipino school had been forced to close for two days due to the torrential rain that also hit neighboring Saudi Arabia.

 

The deluge in Doha blocked several roads, making some impassable for commuters and causing huge congestion.

 

Schools and malls closed, hotels were affected and the rain forced the US embassy in Qatar to shut down.

 

Worst hit seemed to be the area around Doha's Hamad International Airport, where almost 80 millimeters of rain fell, according to the Qatar Meteorology Department.

 

Social media users reported leaks at the facility, which opened just last year after being constructed at an estimated cost of $17 billion (16 billion euros).

 

However, Hamad International said flights operated normally throughout the day.

 

The World Bank calculates that Qatar receives, on average, 74 millimeters of rain each year.

 

In response to the scale of the problems, Qatar's prime minister ordered an investigation, said the official Qatar News Agency.

 

Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani said those responsible for "flawed projects" could face possible prosecution.

 

"It was decided to refer all stakeholders and companies implementing the flawed projects that were revealed by the rainy weather currently experienced by the country, to investigate and then to public prosecution, the prime minister instructed," reported QNA.

 

As many as five unnamed companies could face prosecution, said the report, citing the government communications' office.

 

Qatar is well-known for its fierce summer temperatures, which forced World Cup organizers to move the tournament to November and December for the first time. Matches will be taking place at this exact point in seven years' time. —Rie Takumi and Agence France Presse/KBK, GMA News