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Wildfires recently threatened the closed Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, prompting activation of the Copernicus Emergency Mapping Service. The Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite captured images of the fires and smoke, mapping the affected area.

Heavy rain helped extinguish most flames, but over 500 firefighters, 124 fire engines, and several helicopters remained on-site to manage smoldering. The Chernobyl site, known for the 1986 nuclear disaster that released radioactive fallout across Europe, faced concerns that fires could reach the defunct reactor and radioactive waste storage, risking increased radiation exposure from burning contaminated materials. Fires in this region are seasonal but have intensified this year due to a dry forest floor following a mild winter and spring.