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Crypto events in Dubai, including Blockchain Life and Token2049, faced major disruptions on April 16 due to unprecedented rainfall.
The downpour caused widespread disturbances throughout the city, highlighted in numerous social media videos depicting the challenges faced by attendees trying to reach the venues.
it only took 4 hours to find a car that wouldn’t be afraid to literally swim to the hotel, over an hour to get home only to find out that the elevators in my building have not been working since yday
32 flights of stairs in slippers with no AC or light but IM HOME
dubai, this… pic.twitter.com/ZyVuzp5V9c
— catherine mychka (ross) (@rossreports) April 17, 2024
The amount of water in Dubai hit record levels, altering the day’s plans and leading to the delay of Blockchain Life’s opening.
⚡️❗️Because of the traffic situation in Dubai we reschedule the entrance opening to 1:00 p.m. and the agenda starts at 1:30 p.m.!
— Blockchain Life 2024 (@BlLife_Forum) April 17, 2024
In the meantime, Token2049 events were canceled on April 16 as the conference hall was flooded. The event reopened on April 17.
#TOKEN2049 got liquidated pic.twitter.com/5KKLpvqtD2
— Rankin ⛓️🏛️ (@mycryptoalias) April 16, 2024
The severe weather caused significant logistical issues, prompting Emirates Airlines to pause all check-in services for flights departing from Dubai from the morning of April 17 until midnight. Additionally, budget airline Fly Dubai ceased all departures until mid-morning of the same day.
The government reacted to the severe weather by issuing a red alert, leading to nationwide shutdown of schools, offices, and banks on April 16. Authorities urged the public to stay indoors and to secure their vehicles in elevated areas to avoid the floods, reflecting the seriousness of the storm’s impact on the city’s infrastructure.
