Satellite images reveal horrifying scale of Californian wildfires

Satellite images have revealed the devastating scale of the wildfires currently ravaging California. A recently released image, taken on 9 January, shows vast plumes of smoke billowing over the Pacific Ocean.

The image was captured by the European Space Agency's (ESA) Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite and depicts the Palisades fire and the Eaton fire, with smoke seen reaching Catalina Island and the Santa Barbara reserve to the south of the fires. On Friday, the ESA stated: "Five wildfires – the biggest of which are the Palisades and the Eaton fires – are still currently burning (as of 10 January) in areas of north Los Angeles. At least 10 people are known to have lost their lives and many more properties have been burnt to the ground."

Another satellite image shared was taken on 7 Jan just after fires broke out.

It came at a time when a state of emergency was declared and tens of thousands of people were evacuating as the out-of-control blaze continued to spread rapidly.

Several celebrities with homes in the area have shared their devastation after seeing their neighbourhoods destroyed, with a number of British stars affected