Smoke rises from wildfires in Greece and Turkey, respectively, as the International Space Station passed over them. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi / Twitter
Smoke rises from wildfires in Greece and Turkey, respectively, as the International Space Station passed over them. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi / Twitter
Smoke rises from wildfires in Greece and Turkey, respectively, as the International Space Station passed over them. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi / Twitter
Smoke rises from wildfires in Greece and Turkey, respectively, as the International Space Station passed over them. Photo: Sultan Al Neyadi / Twitter

UAE

Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi takes photos of wildfires from space

Space station crew member pays tribute to those tackling the blazes

The National

July 29, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has shared photos from space of the wildfires affecting Greece and Turkey.

Dr Al Neyadi paid tribute to those tackling the blazes and said his thoughts were with those affected.

Greece and Turkey are among the countries hit by wildfires, in which dozens of people have died, amid a severe heatwave in parts of Europe.

“I was able to capture these images of smoke rising from wildfires in Greece and Turkey, respectively, as the ISS [International Space Station] passed over them,” Dr Al Neyadi's post read.

“To those affected and brave individuals fighting wildfires around the world, please stay safe. Our thoughts and prayers are always with you.”

The Greek island of Rhodes has been particularly badly hit. Resident had to flee homes and thousands of tourists were affected.

Dr Al Neyadi, meanwhile, is entering his final weeks on the ISS.

He arrived on March 3 to carry out the Arab world's longest space mission and is scheduled to head home towards the end of next month.

In April, he carried out a spacewalk, marking another first for an astronaut from the region.

Wildfires hit the Mediterranean – in pictures

A forest fire burns near Vati village, on the island of Rhodes. AP
A forest fire burns near Vati village, on the island of Rhodes. AP
Firefighters watch as a forest fire reignites in Spain's Caldera de Taburiente national park. EPA
Firefighters watch as a forest fire reignites in Spain's Caldera de Taburiente national park. EPA
A man lifts a tile from underneath the frame of a burnt bed after a forest fire raced through the Tunisian town of Melloula. AFP
A man lifts a tile from underneath the frame of a burnt bed after a forest fire raced through the Tunisian town of Melloula. AFP
A firefighter tries to extinguish a blaze near the village of Asklipieio, on the Greek island of Rhodes. Reuters
A firefighter tries to extinguish a blaze near the village of Asklipieio, on the Greek island of Rhodes. Reuters
A plane dumps water over a wildfire on Ciovo island, Croatia. AP
A plane dumps water over a wildfire on Ciovo island, Croatia. AP
Residents of Gennadi village stand near a forest fire raging on the island of Rhodes. AP
Residents of Gennadi village stand near a forest fire raging on the island of Rhodes. AP
People are evacuated by boat as they flee a fire burning near the Greek town of Nea Anchialos. EPA
People are evacuated by boat as they flee a fire burning near the Greek town of Nea Anchialos. EPA
A petrol station destroyed by a forest fire in the Italian town of Oliveri. AFP
A petrol station destroyed by a forest fire in the Italian town of Oliveri. AFP
A man watches as a house burns in the Tono district of Messina, Sicily. AFP
A man watches as a house burns in the Tono district of Messina, Sicily. AFP
The fire destroyed homes and cars in Oliveri. AFP
The fire destroyed homes and cars in Oliveri. AFP
A firefighter is overwhelmed as he looks at the trail of destruction in Messina, Sicily. AFP
A firefighter is overwhelmed as he looks at the trail of destruction in Messina, Sicily. AFP
A fire burns a forested area of Alto do Alvide, Portugal. EPA
A fire burns a forested area of Alto do Alvide, Portugal. EPA
A forest fire burns in Valsequillo, Spain. EPA
A forest fire burns in Valsequillo, Spain. EPA
Calves try to escape the fire in Sesklo village, Greece. EPA
Calves try to escape the fire in Sesklo village, Greece. EPA
Farmers try to save their animals as the fire approaches Sesklo village. EPA
Farmers try to save their animals as the fire approaches Sesklo village. EPA
A firefighter tackles a blaze outside the village of Vati, Greece. Getty
A firefighter tackles a blaze outside the village of Vati, Greece. Getty
A woman salvages produce from a building gutted by a forest fire near the town of Melloula, Tunisia. AFP
A woman salvages produce from a building gutted by a forest fire near the town of Melloula, Tunisia. AFP
Residents block a street as they demand the restoration water supplies in Melloula, following recent heatwaves and a forest fire in the area. AFP
Residents block a street as they demand the restoration water supplies in Melloula, following recent heatwaves and a forest fire in the area. AFP
Algerians gather next to vehicles destroyed by wildfires in Bouira, 100km from the capital, Algiers. AP
Algerians gather next to vehicles destroyed by wildfires in Bouira, 100km from the capital, Algiers. AP
A fire engine moves along a road as a forest fire rages near the Tunisian town of Melloula, close to the border with Algeria. AFP
A fire engine moves along a road as a forest fire rages near the Tunisian town of Melloula, close to the border with Algeria. AFP
A man and his children inspect the damage to their house after a fire raced through the Algerian village of De Oeud Das. EPA
A man and his children inspect the damage to their house after a fire raced through the Algerian village of De Oeud Das. EPA
Houses damaged by the forest fires in De Oeud Das village. EPA
Houses damaged by the forest fires in De Oeud Das village. EPA
Residents try to extinguish a fire in Tunisia's coastal town of Tabarka amid a blistering heatwave. AFP
Residents try to extinguish a fire in Tunisia's coastal town of Tabarka amid a blistering heatwave. AFP
A fireman holds a cat and two rabbits after rescuing them from a fire on the Greek island of Rhodes. AFP
A fireman holds a cat and two rabbits after rescuing them from a fire on the Greek island of Rhodes. AFP
German tourists and local residents try to extinguish a fire near the seaside resort of Lindos. AP
German tourists and local residents try to extinguish a fire near the seaside resort of Lindos. AP
Smoke rises on Corfu following a wildfire. Reuters
Smoke rises on Corfu following a wildfire. Reuters
Tourists wait for departing planes at the airport on the island of Rhodes, after being evacuated. Reuters
Tourists wait for departing planes at the airport on the island of Rhodes, after being evacuated. Reuters
A large forest fire on the Greek island of Rhodes has forced authorities to order an evacuation of four locations. AP
A large forest fire on the Greek island of Rhodes has forced authorities to order an evacuation of four locations. AP
A man carries a child as they leave an area where a forest fire burns. AP
A man carries a child as they leave an area where a forest fire burns. AP
A fire engine is parked in front of a blaze raging in New Peramos, near Athens. AFP
A fire engine is parked in front of a blaze raging in New Peramos, near Athens. AFP
A helicopter works to extinguish a wildfire, in the area of Pico de las Nieves, on the Canary Island of Gran Canaria, Spain. Reuters
A helicopter works to extinguish a wildfire, in the area of Pico de las Nieves, on the Canary Island of Gran Canaria, Spain. Reuters
A firefighters' operations room in Marseille, France. AFP
A firefighters' operations room in Marseille, France. AFP
Smoke billows from a house on fire in the Aci Catena area, 20km from Catania. Getty
Smoke billows from a house on fire in the Aci Catena area, 20km from Catania. Getty
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