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North American wildfires send smoke over Spain

Out of control fires in North America have sent smoke drifting in the atmosphere over parts of Spain, stunning satellite images from NASA show.

Published: 28 June 2013 15:50 CEST
North American wildfires send smoke over Spain
NASA says the smoke has a "faintly yellow-tan or milky gray color" when it is compared with the "brighter" white clouds. Photo: Jeff Schmaltz/NASA

Images captured by NASA's Terra satellite on Wednesday and Thursday show smoke plumes over both Spain and the western Mediterranean.

NASA said data collected from its own satellites and other observation stations suggested the smoke came from wildfires in Canada.

They also it was possible but "less likely" that the some had drifted over Spain from wildfires as far afield as the US state of Colorado, or from other areas in the southwestern US. 

Photo: NASA

According to the space agency, smoke has a "faintly yellow-tan or milky gray color" when it is compared with the "brighter" white clouds. 

Smoke can travel vast distances once it leaves the boundary layer, or that part of the atmosphere closest to the ground.

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FIRE

Situation ‘unstable’ at Copenhagen’s old stock exchange after fire

Three days after a fire which ravaged Copenhagen's historic former stock exchange broke out, emergency services said Friday that the situation was "unstable" due to equipment issues and a strong breeze.

Published: 19 April 2024 17:44 CEST
Situation 'unstable' at Copenhagen's old stock exchange after fire

In the morning, during work to dismantle the scaffolding surrounding the building, a crane’s cutters came loose for as of yet unknown reasons.

It is currently wedged between the scaffolding — put up for the renovation of the historic building that was ongoing — and what remains of the walls.

“It is affecting our efforts”, Tim Ole Simonsen, leader of the operation at the rescue services, told a press conference.

Coupled with the wind picking up, the incident, which has temporarily halted work on dismantling the scaffolding, has made the situation “unstable”.

“The wind is blowing harder and harder, and there are tarps over the scaffolding that can catch the wind,” Simonsen said.

He added that this increases the risks, in particular of further collapse of the burnt-out facade which started collapsing late Thursday afternoon.

Located close to the Christiansborg parliament and seat of government, the Borsen building was commissioned by King Christian IV and built between 1619 and 1640. It was the stock exchange until the 1970s.

The fire began Tuesday morning under the copper roof of the building, which was undergoing renovations ahead of its 400th anniversary.

The cause of the blaze was unknown and Copenhagen police said Wednesday that a major investigation had been launched.

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