Qatar bans contractors from leaving country

Qatar has banned contractors from leaving the oil-rich country as it carries out a probe into how heavy rains damaged buildings and roadways.

An article late Friday on the state-run Qatar News Agency announced the travel ban.

It said "owners of companies, contractors and consulting engineers" would be banned from traveling abroad until the end of the probe.

A year's worth of rain on Wednesday deluged Doha's Hamad International Airport, the home of Qatar Airways, pouring through at least one part of the roof. The airport cost at least $15 billion to build.

Rainwater also flooded streets and shut down some stores in Doha.

Qatar has seen a boom in construction ahead of hosting the 2022 Fifa World Cup.

Photo Caption: A motorist drives a car in a flooded street in the Qatari capital Doha following heavy rainfall on November 25. AFP Photo