The sun shimmers reddish behind cloud bands: Photos posted on social media show an unusual phenomenon in the sky over Chile and Argentina.
Local weather officials said the devastating bushfires in Australia are 12,000 kilometers away. A huge cloud of smoke crossed the Pacific and changed the sun over Chile and Argentina.
Atardecer “rojizo” in Buenos Aires, provocado por el humo de los incendios de Australia.
@SMN_Argentina pic.twitter.com/729LmDXeKF
The population is not in danger, said Patricio Urra of the Chilean meteorological agency of the AFP news agency. The cloud of smoke is at a height of 6000 meters.
The Argentine weather agency SMN also gave the all-clear on Twitter: the only effect was the "slightly redder sun". According to the meteorology company Metsul, the cloud could move on and even reach the Brazilian state of Rio Grande del Sur.
The humo de los incendios de #Australia llegó nuevamente a #Argentina. It is transported to the frontal que des desplazan de oeste hacia el este. ¿Qué consecuencia puede tener? Ninguna muy relevant, solo un atardecer y un Sol un poco más rojizo. ¿Por qué? Abrimos hilo pic.twitter.com/k6mLImCE2h
- SMN Argentina (@SMN_Argentina) January 6, 2020Devastating forest and bush fires have been raging in Australia since September. Nationwide, 25 people have already died. More than 2,000 houses were destroyed. Around 10.6 million hectares have been burned down - roughly the size of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg combined.
More about the fires in Australia
In recent days, light rain and cooler temperatures have helped Australian firefighters. However, they are still fighting numerous fires, which mainly focus on the states of New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria. At the end of the week it should be 40 degrees and hotter again.
