Fire near Sofala (MZ)

18.86°S, 35.81°E · first detected on 7 October at 12:53

What the satellites measured

This fire was tracked from 7 October at 12:53 to 21 October at 20:13, that is 14 days, through 1,030 satellite detections. The detected extent reaches 15,010 ha.

Detected extent: 15,010 ha
Cumulative power: 12,054 MW
Peak power, one pixel: 235 MW
VIIRS and MODIS detections: 1,030
Estimated emissions: 19.0 kt of carbon; Carbon burnt in the 0.1 degree cells (about 10 km) around the fire, from 7 October 2026 to 20 October 2026. An order-of-magnitude estimate from GFAS (ECMWF, Copernicus CAMS): it also counts neighbouring fires in the same cell. Contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information (2026). Published data stop on 20 October 2026.

These four figures cover the polar orbits alone, the ones that measure an area. The pass table below also counts geostationary detections, more frequent but too coarse for geometry, and its power column sums a whole pass where the peak above is that of a single pixel.

“Detected extent” is not “burned area”: it is the union of the ground footprints of the satellite pixels, and a pixel counts in full (375 m for VIIRS, 1 km for MODIS) even when only a forest edge is burning. Compared with press figures it is in practice one and a half to three times the area reported. Detections taken at the edge of the scan swath, too coarse to measure anything at all, are excluded. These figures come from thermal detection and are not an official assessment: only the emergency services and the competent authorities are authoritative.

Replay how the fire spread

The map is framed on this fire's footprint and loads only its detections. The timeline below covers the period in which satellites saw it, from the first to the last detection, with twelve hours before and twenty-four after; the ticks on the bar mark the emergency services' announcements that fall within it. The cursor opens on the most powerful pass, and playback replays the whole fire in about thirty seconds. “1 h” shows what is burning within an hour of the chosen moment : the map then follows the power curve below and empties when it falls. “24 h” stacks twenty-four hours : a fire stays visible between two satellite passes, which come two to four times a day. Both are true, but they say different things.

Before, after: the burn scar seen from space

Sentinel-2 satellite image of the same area near Sofala (MZ) after the fire, on 21 October 2026

Sentinel-2 satellite image of the area near Sofala (MZ) before the fire, on 28 September 2026

Before · 28 September 2026After · 21 October 2026

Sentinel-2, 10 m resolution. The dates are those of the least cloudy passes available: “after” is not the day after the fire went out, it is the first clear sky that followed. Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel-2 data (2026).

How the radiative power evolved

One point per satellite pass: the sum of the fire radiative power measured over the fire. This is the curve that says whether the fire eased off or picked up again, which no cumulative figure shows. The window covers 17 days; beyond that, clustering would merge two successive fires in the same place.

Fire dynamics

Loading history…

Satellite passes in detail

Pass	Power summed over the pass	Detections	Sensor
21 October at 20:13	20 MW	2	Terra
21 October at 19:32	15 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 19:22	11 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 19:12	11 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 19:02	10 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 18:42	13 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 18:32	14 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 18:22	10 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 18:12	11 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 17:52	52 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 17:42	54 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 17:32	50 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 17:22	38 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 17:12	52 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 17:02	28 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 16:52	27 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 16:32	23 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 16:22	24 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 16:12	78 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 16:02	67 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 15:52	69 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 15:42	65 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 15:40	121 MW	7	Aqua
21 October at 15:32	63 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 15:22	44 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 15:12	47 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 15:02	48 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 14:52	19 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 14:32	82 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 14:22	52 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 14:12	88 MW	3	Met12
21 October at 14:08	30 MW	4	N
21 October at 14:04	49 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 14:02	67 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 13:52	48 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 13:49	54 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 13:34	53 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 13:32	10 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 13:31	70 MW	8	N21
21 October at 13:22	25 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 13:12	31 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 13:04	222 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 13:02	36 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 12:52	15 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 12:49	77 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 12:45	41 MW	6	N20
21 October at 12:42	19 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 12:34	178 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 12:32	41 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 12:22	20 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 12:19	249 MW	3	Met9
21 October at 12:12	16 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 12:04	193 MW	2	Met9
21 October at 12:02	15 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 11:52	15 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 11:49	108 MW	1	Met9
21 October at 11:42	12 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 11:32	16 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 11:22	13 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 11:12	12 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 11:02	36 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 10:52	22 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 10:42	12 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 10:22	22 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 10:12	24 MW	2	Met12
21 October at 10:02	14 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 09:42	10 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 09:32	11 MW	1	Met12
21 October at 09:22	53 MW	4	Met12
21 October at 01:37	1 MW	1	N
21 October at 00:59	1 MW	1	N21
21 October at 00:16	1 MW	1	N20
20 October at 18:32	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 18:12	22 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 18:02	24 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 17:32	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 17:22	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 17:12	25 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 17:02	28 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 16:52	44 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 16:42	86 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 16:32	78 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 16:22	45 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 16:12	37 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 16:04	100 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 16:02	69 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 15:52	101 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 15:49	172 MW	5	Met9
20 October at 15:49	96 MW	2	Met10
20 October at 15:42	130 MW	7	Met12
20 October at 15:34	204 MW	5	Met9
20 October at 15:32	127 MW	7	Met12
20 October at 15:22	167 MW	9	Met12
20 October at 15:19	211 MW	4	Met9
20 October at 15:12	111 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 15:04	212 MW	4	Met9
20 October at 15:02	186 MW	9	Met12
20 October at 14:52	160 MW	7	Met12
20 October at 14:49	209 MW	4	Met9
20 October at 14:42	187 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 14:34	347 MW	6	Met9
20 October at 14:32	190 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 14:25	217 MW	18	N
20 October at 14:22	177 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 14:19	199 MW	4	Met9
20 October at 14:12	162 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 14:04	183 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 14:02	135 MW	7	Met12
20 October at 13:52	129 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 13:49	173 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 13:49	399 MW	53	N21
20 October at 13:42	155 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 13:34	220 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 13:32	203 MW	7	Met12
20 October at 13:22	209 MW	8	Met12
20 October at 13:19	251 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 13:12	230 MW	11	Met12
20 October at 13:06	406 MW	49	N20
20 October at 13:04	237 MW	4	Met9
20 October at 13:02	197 MW	9	Met12
20 October at 12:52	278 MW	9	Met12
20 October at 12:49	409 MW	5	Met9
20 October at 12:45	519 MW	37	N
20 October at 12:42	233 MW	7	Met12
20 October at 12:34	252 MW	3	Met9
20 October at 12:32	231 MW	6	Met12
20 October at 12:22	180 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 12:19	193 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 12:12	250 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 12:04	82 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 12:02	157 MW	7	Met12
20 October at 11:52	139 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 11:49	137 MW	2	Met9
20 October at 11:49	77 MW	1	Met10
20 October at 11:42	147 MW	5	Met12
20 October at 11:34	71 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 11:32	112 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 11:22	76 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 11:12	38 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 11:02	70 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 10:52	36 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 10:42	50 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 10:32	47 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 10:22	57 MW	4	Met12
20 October at 10:18	42 MW	1	Met9
20 October at 10:12	26 MW	2	Met12
20 October at 10:02	43 MW	3	Met12
20 October at 09:32	14 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 08:22	11 MW	1	Met12
20 October at 01:20	4 MW	1	N21
20 October at 00:35	1 MW	1	N20
19 October at 20:34	12 MW	1	Terra
19 October at 20:22	14 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 19:42	12 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 19:22	14 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 19:12	14 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 19:02	12 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 18:49	31 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 18:32	19 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 18:12	15 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 18:02	25 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 17:52	44 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 17:49	36 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 17:42	70 MW	5	Met12
19 October at 17:34	83 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 17:32	121 MW	5	Met12
19 October at 17:22	81 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 17:19	95 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 17:12	112 MW	5	Met12
19 October at 17:04	87 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 17:02	80 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 16:52	61 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 16:49	33 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 16:42	33 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 16:34	61 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 16:32	51 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 16:22	56 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 16:19	49 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 16:12	48 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 16:04	57 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 16:02	51 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 15:59	30 MW	1	Aqua
19 October at 15:52	60 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 15:49	74 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 15:49	43 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 15:42	57 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 15:32	37 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 15:22	43 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 15:12	23 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 15:04	53 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 15:02	88 MW	6	Met12
19 October at 14:52	84 MW	5	Met12
19 October at 14:49	108 MW	3	Met9
19 October at 14:42	30 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 14:34	55 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 14:32	25 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 14:22	42 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 14:19	97 MW	3	Met9
19 October at 14:12	28 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 14:08	114 MW	12	N21
19 October at 14:04	84 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 14:02	11 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 13:52	23 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 13:49	85 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 13:49	246 MW	5	Met9
19 October at 13:42	99 MW	6	Met12
19 October at 13:34	377 MW	7	Met9
19 October at 13:34	91 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 13:32	102 MW	5	Met12
19 October at 13:23	257 MW	30	N20
19 October at 13:22	94 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 13:19	252 MW	5	Met9
19 October at 13:12	76 MW	4	Met12
19 October at 13:04	176 MW	26	N
19 October at 13:04	117 MW	2	Met9
19 October at 13:02	48 MW	3	Met12
19 October at 12:52	26 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 12:49	68 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 12:42	10 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 12:34	70 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 12:32	17 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 12:28	145 MW	21	N21
19 October at 12:22	39 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 12:19	72 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 12:12	11 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 12:02	27 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 11:52	48 MW	2	Met12
19 October at 11:49	72 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 11:49	69 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 11:34	68 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 11:22	25 MW	1	Met12
19 October at 11:19	70 MW	1	Met9
19 October at 11:19	72 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 11:04	57 MW	1	Met10
19 October at 00:54	2 MW	2	N20
19 October at 00:33	2 MW	2	N
18 October at 23:57	1 MW	1	N21
18 October at 19:54	22 MW	1	Terra
18 October at 15:23	707 MW	19	Aqua
18 October at 13:45	930 MW	56	N20
18 October at 13:23	544 MW	46	N
18 October at 12:45	389 MW	25	N21
18 October at 01:14	9 MW	8	N20
18 October at 00:54	9 MW	9	N
18 October at 00:16	9 MW	4	N21
17 October at 20:53	36 MW	1	Terra
17 October at 14:02	312 MW	43	N20
17 October at 13:42	431 MW	56	N
17 October at 13:06	614 MW	51	N21
17 October at 08:44	90 MW	2	Terra
16 October at 15:44	99 MW	7	Aqua
16 October at 14:02	201 MW	24	N
16 October at 13:23	421 MW	29	N21
16 October at 12:41	236 MW	24	N20
15 October at 15:06	68 MW	3	Aqua
15 October at 14:19	57 MW	4	N
15 October at 13:45	76 MW	4	N21
15 October at 13:00	5 MW	2	N20
15 October at 01:50	4 MW	3	N
15 October at 01:14	9 MW	3	N21
15 October at 00:27	4 MW	3	N20
15 October at 00:10	2 MW	1	N
14 October at 20:34	17 MW	1	Terra
14 October at 14:02	117 MW	11	N21
14 October at 13:17	831 MW	28	N20
14 October at 12:58	375 MW	17	N
14 October at 12:21	206 MW	8	N21
13 October at 19:56	18 MW	1	Terra
13 October at 15:29	256 MW	13	Aqua
13 October at 13:38	430 MW	25	N20
12 October at 14:51	63 MW	1	Aqua
12 October at 13:00	164 MW	21	N21
11 October at 15:53	13 MW	1	Aqua
11 October at 14:14	57 MW	7	N20
11 October at 13:55	236 MW	27	N
11 October at 13:17	226 MW	22	N21
11 October at 12:34	60 MW	9	N20
11 October at 08:08	10 MW	1	Terra
10 October at 15:14	110 MW	5	Aqua
10 October at 14:14	51 MW	9	N
10 October at 13:38	143 MW	23	N21
10 October at 12:52	102 MW	14	N20
10 October at 12:34	4 MW	1	N
9 October at 13:55	56 MW	6	N21
9 October at 13:10	76 MW	6	N20
9 October at 12:51	75 MW	4	N
9 October at 12:15	22 MW	1	N21
9 October at 01:26	5 MW	2	N21
9 October at 00:42	2 MW	2	N20
8 October at 15:38	9 MW	1	Aqua
8 October at 13:13	5 MW	1	N
7 October at 13:49	56 MW	5	N20
7 October at 13:30	71 MW	10	N
7 October at 12:53	54 MW	6	N21

8 other fires near Sofala (MZ)

Separate fires, apart in time or in space, not pieces of this one. A single municipality can have several over one summer, and a forest massif often covers more than a hundred square kilometres.

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