NASA unveiled images depicting parts of Dubai and Abu Dhabi before and after the United Arab Emirates was struck by unprecedented rainfall last week, resulting in perilous floods that brought much of the nation to a standstill.
The visuals, captured by NASA Earth Observatory on Friday utilizing Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey, exhibit extensive areas of water across the desert and urban expanse of the UAE, where previously there was none—almost resembling the emergence of small lakes.
"Some regions remained submerged on April 19, when Landsat 9 traversed the area for the first time since the downpours," NASA stated on its Earth Observatory platform.
Sudden torrents on April 16 led to vehicles being engulfed by water, with some completely submerged, prompting hundreds of drivers to abandon their vehicles on roads to flee the rising floodwaters.
The typically arid desert nation in the Gulf was hammered with approximately a year's worth of precipitation in less than a day, surpassing any previous single storm record since the UAE began keeping records in 1949.
The initial image from NASA showcases a segment of Dubai and its environs on April 3, captured by Landsat 9, an earth observation satellite jointly operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and NASA. The subsequent image was taken on April 19, coinciding with Landsat 9's passage over the region for the first time following the unprecedented rainstorms.
The subsequent image, acquired through the satellite's OLI-2 (Operational Land Imager 2), "depicts flooding in numerous parts of the emirate. The imagery utilizes false color (bands 6-5-3) to highlight the presence of water, which appears blue," NASA elucidated.
The deluge resulted in the closure of educational institutions and commercial establishments, grounding hundreds of flights, and wreaking havoc on vehicles, businesses, and other properties. It plunged daily life into disarray as many residents faced power outages, water shortages, or found themselves trapped in their residences, airports, or elsewhere when the tempest struck.
The UAE's National Center for Meteorology reported that eastern regions of the country received up to 250 millimeters—equivalent to 10 inches—of rainfall within a span of fewer than 24 hours. In contrast, the UAE typically experiences 5.5 to 8 inches of annual rainfall.
Owing to insufficient drainage infrastructure and the extensive paving of urban areas, much of the water had nowhere to drain, exacerbating flooding in numerous locales.
The nation's cleanup endeavors are ongoing, with significant challenges persisting in areas where infrastructure sustained severe damage, leaving many residents without basic amenities such as water and electricity.
A multi-story apartment complex near the Dubai-Sharjah border suffered structural damage from the storm, leading to cracks and tilting, necessitating a full evacuation on Friday due to the risk of collapse.
The UAE's central bank issued a directive to local financial institutions and insurance firms to grant a six-month deferral for loan repayments, aiming to aid residents and businesses affected by the floods.
