Reddit Users Share 3D Visualisation of Australian Fires Based on NASA Data

The scale of the disaster is striking.

Thanks to NASA satellite data, users on Reddit created a 3D visualisation of the fires in Australia. The image shows all areas where fires broke out during the period studied, but not all of them are still burning now.

On 3 January it became known that the Australian navy is rescuing people from a city engulfed in fire. About 1,000 residents and tourists trapped in the fire-devastated town of Mallacoota on the coast of Victoria state have been evacuated. People were transported on 2 large vessels.

Earlier, about 4,000 residents and tourists had fled to the beach when forest fires surrounded the town. 

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews declared a state of emergency in 6 districts and resorts, including Mallacoota. In other parts of Victoria, people were urged to evacuate by road in convoys. There were also long queues at railway stations. 

Since September, the fires have killed at least 20 people in 2 states, and dozens remain missing. So far, the fires have destroyed more than 1,300 homes.