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A satellite photo has captured the aftermath of a devastating wildfire that tore through the town of Lahaina on Hawaii’s Maui island. The fire, which started on August 8, spread rapidly through the town, destroying buildings, cars, and filling the air with smoke and ash. Many survivors were caught off guard by the fire, unaware of its presence until it was almost upon them.

Tragically, the Maui fire claimed the lives of at least 99 people, making it the deadliest U.S. fire in over a century. The death toll is expected to rise further as emergency responders search for missing individuals in the rubble of destroyed buildings.

Images taken by the Landsat 8 satellite, co-owned by NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey, show the extent of the fires on Maui. The photos reveal Lahaina nearly engulfed in flames, as well as another large wildfire to the northeast of Kihei. Infrared radiation emitted by the flames is superimposed on a natural-color image of the island.

The fire in Lahaina spread quickly due to unusually strong winds, fueled by a high-pressure system to the north and the remnants of Hurricane Dora to the south. Wind gusts reached speeds of 45 to 67 mph (72 to 107 kph), allowing the fire to travel at a rate of about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) per minute.

As for the financial impact, it is too early to estimate the total cost of the damages caused by the fires. The losses, however, could amount to as much as billion, according to Hawaii Governor Josh Green. He described the incident as the largest natural disaster Hawaii has ever experienced and one that will require a significant amount of time to recover from.

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