Image of the day
Wildfires in the Western Algarve, Portugal
Earth Observation | Copernicus
Fires
Location: Portugal
Credit: European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery
In mid-September 2025, a wildfire affected extensive areas of the Western Algarve, Portugal, particularly in the municipalities of Aljezur and Lagos. The fire, now under control, burnt large areas of vegetation and injured 14 people.
This false colour image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 22 September 2025, shows the burn scar left by the fire. In this composite, burnt areas appear in dark brown and red tones, clearly distinguishable from the surrounding unburnt vegetation, which appears in bright shades of green.
The Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites deliver high-resolution optical data which supports the monitoring of land cover changes, including vegetation loss caused by fires.
