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Widespread power outage in Puerto Rico

By Scott Bachmeier •

Suomi NPP VIIRS Day/Night Band (0.7 um) images: cloud-free "clear view" (31 Dec 2015) vs 22 September and 23 September 2016 [click to enlarge]

Suomi NPP VIIRS Day/Night Band (0.7 um) images: cloud-free “clear view” (31 Dec 2015) vs 22 September and 23 September 2016 [click to enlarge]

A fire at the Aguirre power plant in Salinas (located along the southern coast of Puerto Rico) on 21 September 2016 triggered a widespread power outage across the island. A comparison of Suomi NPP VIIRS Day/Night Band (0.7 um) images of Puerto Rico on a cloud-free “clear view” night (31 December 2015) and the 2 nights following the power outage (22 and 23 September) is shown above (visualized using RealEarth); the nighttime glow of city lights is dramatically reduced on the 22 September image, while some restoration of power to much of the island — reportedly 75% — is apparent on the 23 September image.  Additional details and images can be found on the NASA Earth Observatory site.

Categories: RealEarth, Suomi NPP, VIIRS