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NASA Satellite Spots Madeira Wildfires

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Wildfires on the Portuguese island of Madeira
Wildfires on the Portuguese island of Madeira off the coast of Morocco were spotted by NASA's Aqua satellite on July 19, 2012. (Image credit: NASA)

Wildfires broke out earlier this week on the island of Madeira, a Portuguese archipelago off the coast of Morocco, and were captured in an image by NASA's Aqua satellite yesterday (July 19).

The wildfires erupted on July 18 and as of today they have spread to the nearby island of Porto Santo, according to news reports and a NASA statement. NASA said that firefighters from the Portuguese mainland were struggling against high winds in their battle to control the blazes.

Madeira, where the eponymous wine is made, has been suffering from a drought, which can create prime wildfire conditions and exacerbate wildfires when they start.

Wildfires have also been burning in Siberia and the American West this summer.

Live Science Staff
Live Science Staff
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