LA wildfires seen from NASA international space station as disturbing images show extent of destruction
The Los Angeles wildfires have been spotted from space in terrifying images showing the extent of the destruction. Photos from NASA's international space station capture the devastation of the blaze, which erupted last week.
Fires broke out in the hills of Los Angeles County on Wednesday, January 8. Major wildland fires burn, fuelled by a dry landscape and up to 100 mile per hour winds, which left thousands of homes and businesses in cinders.
Evacuation orders were issued in several parts of the county including the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood which bore the brunt of the flames. Strong Santa Ana winds blew in, ravaging the region and placing the death toll at 24.
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An image acquired by the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-2 satellite, shows the Palisades fire at 10:45 a.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday, January 7, soon after it ignited, according to the NASA Earth Observatory.
Smoke continued to stream from the Palisades fire toward the Pacific Ocean that afternoon, when NASA’s Aqua satellite captured the unnerving image above. Smoke can be seen billowing across the region with great force.
By Wednesday afternoon, it had moved westward along the Pacific Coast Highway toward Malibu, scorching over 11,000 acres, according to Cal Fire. Farther inland, the Eaton fire erupted on Tuesday night in Altadena, north of downtown Los Angeles. The fire quickly spread to more than 10,000 acres, burning parts of Pasadena and Altadena.
Another major fire, Hurst, broke out in San Fernando on Tuesday night.
Powerful Santa Ana winds, which typically occur between October and January, and a lack of rain created “critical” fire weather conditions in Southern California, according to the National Weather Service.
As of Monday, the wildfires have burned a total of 40,000 acres, with fire crews still fighting to put out out the worst of it. The Palisades Fire, the largest of the four major fires, burning 23,723 acres, is only 11 per cent contained.
At least 16 people are missing. Scotland-based individuals have also been impacted. Jess Ross, an American writer living in Edinburgh has said she is “heartbroken" to see her former home in the Pacific Palisades ravaged by wildfires.
On the upside, three smaller fires are now 100 per cent contained including the Sunset Fire, the smallest of the fires, which is located behind the world famous Hollywood sign, covering 43 acres.
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