The bushfires you can see from space: Incredible satellite images show smoke billowing for hundreds of kilometres as more than 90 fires ravage Australia’s east coast
- Satellite imagery shows the widespread devastation of fires raging across NSW
- In the images, smoke can be seen pouring off the state’s north coast
- Three people have died in the fire, and PM Scott Morrison says death toll will rise
Shocking satellite images have shown the widespread devastation raging bushfire have caused along Australia’s east coast.
As of Saturday night, there were almost 80 fires burning across NSW with 36 of those uncontained and another four at emergency warning level along the state’s north coast.
Three people have been confirmed dead and others are feared missing while more than 150 homes have been lost on the mid north coast.
Homes have also been lost in Queensland, where a state of emergency has been declared for 38 local government areas across the state.
US meteorologist Dakota Smith shared incredible satellite images showing the smoke and bushfires causing havoc along Australia’s east coast
This satellite image shows the build up of smoke and heat across NSW north coast on Saturday
Incredible photos and animated footage has emerged of bushfires from space and of smoke billowing for hundreds of kilometres across the Pacific Ocean was shared by US meteorologist and scientist Dakota Smith.
‘Explosive wildfire growth with giant smoke plumes. Insane imagery of Australia’s east coast today,’ he tweeted.
Mr Smith later shared satellite imagery of the smoke billowing across New Zealand’s South Island.
Dakota Smith first shared satellite images of the growing bushfire crisis on Thursday night
Another man shared a photograph showing the plumes of smoke while in a plane flying over the one of the worst hit areas.
‘If that’s what the fires look like from up here on the NSW Mid North Coast, huge prayers and thoughts for those down there,’ he wrote.
A grandmother-of-six is one of three people confirmed dead as more than 90 bushfires rage across New South Wales and Queensland, destroying 150 homes and burning whole towns.
Vivian Chaplain, 69, died trying to protect her home and animals near Wytaliba, northwest of Coffs Harbour on the NSW north coast.
She was found about 7pm on Friday after a blaze ripped through her property near Glen Innes, unconscious and suffering horrific burns over 40 to 50 per cent of her body.
Firefighters and paramedics gave her first aid and CPR for hours at the burned-out property until she could be rushed to hospital, but she died on Saturday morning.
‘Explosive wildfire growth with giant smoke plumes. Insane imagery of Australia’s east coast ,’ US meteorologist Dakota Smith tweeted
A firefighter discovered the body of fellow Wytaliba local George in a burnt-out car on Old Grafton Road in Diehard on Saturday morning at the Kangawalla fire near Glen Innes.
‘This is devastating, George was such a beautiful man. Such a tragedy,’ another local wrote.
More than 1,300 firefighters are battling blazes across NSW as officials admit the situation is ‘beyond serious’ and hot, dry weather forecasts mean ‘we’re not through the worst of it’.