Bushfires raging in Queensland

In the Australia’s state of Queensland, on 16 October, firefighters have responded to almost 60 grass and bushfires within a 24-hour timeframe on. The largest ongoing fire, which started in late September, has already burned more than 100,000 hectares in the Carnarvon National Park. Australia is facing a destructive bushfire season due to high temperatures, low rainfall, and changing weather patterns, which are increasing fuel loads. At least one casualty has been reported to date and several houses have been destroyed.

In this image acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 17 October, the infrared signature of the Carnarvon National Park bushfire can be seen, as well as the smoke generated by the blaze and part of the burnt area.

Copernicus provides crucial data for fire prevention and preparedness, supporting the development of early warning systems and fire risk assessments. The data from its Sentinel-2 satellite can also be used to evaluate the extent of burnt areas from space.