As the UAE begins the arduous task of assessing damages to homes and businesses and clearing waterlogged roads following a rare rainstorm that inundated the country, residents in Sharjah now confront an additional worry: an oil slick on a waterlogged road.
This new concern has emerged on Al Wahda Road, near the Al Khan interchange, compounding the anxieties of people already grappling with the aftermath of the April 16 storm. According to residents, the slick has led to oil contaminating the flooded roads, exacerbating the already challenging situation.
Ahmed, a Sharjah resident who came to inspect his abandoned car on Al Wahda Road, expressed his observations, stating, “We observed a dark liquid floating on top of the stagnant water. When I touched the liquid, I felt it to be motor engine oil. The slick spans nearly a kilometre in one direction.”
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He further added, “We are worried, as a tiny spark can cause unimaginable damage.”
Fahad and another resident who came to inspect his vehicle voiced concerns about the additional damage the oil slick could cause. “We have already suffered significant losses due to the flooding, and now we must consider the repercussions of the oil slick on both our vehicles and health,” said Fahad, who works in the automotive industry.
With hundreds of cars abandoned on the road and residents gathering to assess their vehicles, fear is mounting for further damage. They fear the consequences of the oil slick and anxiously await the commencement of cleanup efforts.
The presence of the oil slick adds another layer of complexity to the already challenging cleanup process, highlighting the urgent need for swift and effective measures to mitigate its impact on both the environment and residents’ well-being.
