NASA has released photos of parts of Dubai and Abu Dhabi before and after record rainfall hit the United Arab Emirates last week, causing dangerous flooding and paralyzing much of the country.
The images were taken by NASA’s Earth Observatory on Friday using U.S. Geological Surveyshows the vast expanses of water that populate the UAE’s desert and urban landscapes where none were previously present – almost as if small lakes have emerged.
“On April 19, some areas were still flooded. Landsat 9 This is the first time the storm has passed through the area since the storm,” NASA wrote on its Earth Observatory website.
Flash floods that formed on April 16 left cars engulfed in water and, in some areas, completely submerged, causing hundreds of drivers to abandon their vehicles on the roads to escape rising water levels.
The normally dry Gulf desert nation was hit with about a year’s worth of rain in less than a day, a downpour not seen in the UAE’s history since 1949.
Satellite photos of parts of Dubai on April 3 were taken by Landsat 9, an Earth observation satellite jointly operated by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
NASA Earth Observatory
Satellite photo of parts of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, taken on April 19, as Landsat 9 passed over the area for the first time since record heavy rains on April 15 and 16. Images obtained using the satellite OLI-2 (Operational Land Imager 2) showed flooding in many areas of the emirate. This image is false color (color band 6-5-3) to emphasize the presence of water, which appears blue.
NASA Earth Observatory
NASA’s first image shows parts of Dubai and surrounding areas on April 3, taken by Landsat 9, an Earth observation satellite operated jointly by the U.S. Geological Survey and NASA. The second was taken on April 19, when Landsat 9 passed over the area for the first time since the country was hit by record heavy rains.
The second image, acquired with the satellite OLI-2 (Operational Land Imager 2), “shows flooding in many areas of the emirate. The image is false-colored (band 6-5-3) to emphasize the presence of water. See Up blue,” NASA wrote.
Flooding closed schools and businesses, grounded hundreds of flights and destroyed cars, businesses and other property. When the storm hit, many residents lost power and running water or were stranded in their homes, airports or wherever they happened to be, throwing daily life into chaos.
The UAE’s National Meteorological Center said up to 250 millimeters (10 inches) of rain fell in less than 24 hours in the country’s east. In comparison, the UAE typically receives 5.5 to 8 inches of rainfall throughout the year.
With a lack of drainage infrastructure and the country’s urban spaces being paved, much water has nowhere to go, exacerbating flooding in many areas.
Clean-up efforts are still underway in the country, but many problems remain in some areas, with infrastructure severely damaged and many residents saying they are still without running water or electricity.
Landsat 9 images show Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, and surrounding areas before and after the storm on April 3 (left) and April 19 (right). On April 19, Sheikh Zayed Road, the main road between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, was flooded. Large areas of flooded areas were also seen in the residential areas of Khalifa City and Zayed City, southeast of central Abu Dhabi.
NASA Earth Observatory
A multi-storey apartment building near the border of the emirates of Dubai and Sharjah Cracked and tilted due to structural damage A complete evacuation was in place on Friday due to the risk of collapse.
The UAE central bank has issued instructions to local banks and insurance companies to allow loan repayment moratoriums six months in an effort to help residents and businesses hit by flooding.
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