Fires in Nagorno Karabakh
Fires in Nagorno Karabakh
13 July 2006
Since the beginning of June 2006extended wildfires were observed on the territory of Nagorno Karabakh. Thisterritory is disputed between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The fires spread rapidlyand affected wildlands, fields and villages in the districts Aghdam, Fizuli,Jabrayil, Tartar and Khojavand. The blazes were then reaching territorycontrolled by Azerbaijan.
Reports were received by the Councilof Europe that the villages Yusifjanly, Novruzlu, Marzili, Baghbanly, Shabybaly,Sarijaly, Seyidly, Gyulchuluk, Javahirli, Shahbulag, Magsudlu and Bash Garvandin the Aghdam district were affected by fire. Also the villages Shykhbabaly,Marzili, Khidirly, Afatli, Garadaghly, Mahrizly, Kangarli, Chalik, Zangishahly,Chamanli, Ahmadaghaly, Chyragly and Goytapa were threatened by the flames thatburned all surrounding grasslands and affected the vegetation severely. Thefires were raging for more than 20 days and burned almost all vegetation in theregion
According to first estimations thefires burnt an area of about 13,200 ha of urban, agricultural and wildlands.
Latest satellite images of the fires burning in NagornoKarabakh:
The following satellite images, captured by the ModerateResolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASAs Terra satellite, show thedeveloping fires from 3 June to 11 June 2006.
3 June 2006
6 June 2006
9 June 2006
11 June 2006
These images are using MODIS observations of shortwave andnear-infrared light along with visible light to make the burned areas stand outfrom unburned vegetation. Across the Aghdam district, deep red burn scars minglewith the unburned bright green vegetation. Water is dark blue, and naturallybare or sparsely vegetated ground appears light (sometimes pinkish) tan. Placeswhere MODIS detected actively burning fires are marked in red.
The high-resolution images provided above have a spatialresolution of 250 meters per pixel.
See also following report:
-
Saisie du Conseil de lEurope : Destructions massives des constructions et ressources naturelles azéries par les troupes doccupation arméniennes au Haut-Karabagh (published by www.armeniens.net, 11 July 2006)
