World in Crisis: Major Floods Hit Dubai and Washington, Dhaka Sizzles due to Riots

JAKARTA - A series of natural disasters and social instability are shaking various parts of the world today. While Dubai and Washington are struggling against massive floods that paralyze infrastructure, the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, is in a state of panic due to mass riots. Here is a record of events bringing in other parts of the world;

1. Dubai Paralyzed by Extreme Rain

The metropolitan city of Dubai is once again facing extreme weather challenges on Saturday (20/12/2025). Heavy rain that has been pouring since Friday night has caused knee-deep water in a number of protocol roads and luxury residential areas.

The National Center for Meteorology (NCM) of the United Arab Emirates issued a red alert for residents to stay indoors. The most significant impact was felt in the transportation sector: Emirates airlines were forced to cancel at least 13 flights today, while dozens of other departure schedules were delayed for a long time at Dubai International Airport (DXB).

Security forces have asked residents to stay at home unless there is an urgent need, in response to the National Meteorological Center, which has issued warnings about storms that will hit parts of the UAE, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

2. Washington hit by flash floods: 46 thousand residents evacuated

In the United States, an atmospheric river phenomenon triggered a massive flash flood in Washington state. The Green River's overflow in the Kent area has cut off access to major highways and flooded thousands of homes.

Critical conditions occurred in the city of Burlington, where a river levee broke and forced more than 9,200 residents to evacuate immediately. In total, local authorities reported that more than 46,000 residents across Washington state had been evacuated by Saturday (20/12/2025). The governor of Washington has declared a state of emergency to expedite the distribution of logistical and medical assistance to the affected locations.

Citing Reuters, King County official Girmay Zahilay said repairs were expected to take several hours. Monitoring was focused on the Desimone Dike in Tukwila, along the Green River, about five miles south of downtown Seattle, after a section of the dike was swept away by floodwaters.

3. Dhaka: Media Office Burned and Mass Clash

Turning to South Asia, the situation in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is reported to be very tense. Riots broke out after news of the death of influential young figure, Sharif Osman Hadi, in Singapore on Thursday (18/12/2025).

The initially peaceful protest turned violent on Saturday. Angry mobs reportedly attacked and set fire to the offices of several local media outlets and engaged in fierce clashes with security forces in the city center. Tensions have escalated with anti-Indian sentiments accompanying the mass political demands related to the stability of the transitional government. The Bangladeshi government has deployed additional troops to secure vital objects and imposed curfew restrictions in several districts.