Australian Firestorm Aftermath: Earth Image of the Week

NASA Image of Australian Fires on February 16, 2009.

Lingering smoke from Australia's worst natural disaster in more than a century can be seen blowing over metropolitan Melbourne.

Scattered bushfires continued to burn in the Australian state of Victoria well over a week after a much larger conflagration became the country’s worst natural disaster in more than a century.

When the image to the right was captured by NASA’s Terra Satellite at midday on February 16, 2009, the number of fires still burning had dropped to six, down from a peak of about three dozen on February 7.

The fires have destroyed more than 1,800 homes and killed at least 201 people, most of whom perished in circumstances far too horrible to imagine.

The bushfires obliterated four major towns and several smaller communities, leaving 4,200 people homeless.

In the worst-hit community of Marysville, officials fear that as many as 100 of the approximate 500 city residents may have been killed by the firestorm.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says February 7 will be etched in the country's memory as a day of disaster, death and mourning. Sunday, February 22, has been designated as a national day of mourning.

Smoke from the lingering blazes can be seen in the NASA image, blowing southwestward over metropolitan Melbourne on Monday. Water officials there have been forced to divert some water supplies from reservoirs threatened with toxic contamination from the ash and debris created by nearby fires.

Melbourne Water managing director Rob Skinner told the Australian Associated Press that some dams may need to be decommissioned for up to three months if contamination is as bad as feared.

Image: NASA MODIS Rapid Response System