Fort McMurray wildfire: First clear satellite images show deserted streets, burned homes

Early Friday morning, Google released the first clear images of fire-ravaged Fort McMurray taken from space. They show deserted streets and whole neighbourhoods devastated.

The space image was taken Wednesday by Terra Bella, a subsidiary of Google that operates satellites. A larger original version can be seen here. (Go to that link to look for a specific home.)

Here, we show you before-and-after images of seven residential areas in Fort McMurray, which look partly or completely burned under a remaining haze of smoke.

Update, May 12: The ‘before’ satellite images were supplied to Google Earth by DigitalGlobe. 

Abasand (1)

Abasand (2)

Beacon Hill

Confederation Trailer Park

Trailer park residents seem to have hooked up their mobile homes and fled. Almost no trailers are visible from space.

Wood Buffalo

Waterways (1)

Waterways (2)

ALL IMAGES: GOOGLE/TERRA BELLA

View image in full screen

READ MORE: Where Fort McMurray fire evacuees can get help and information

0:28 7,000 Fort McMurray evacuees processed by Edmonton emergency services

Edmonton Emergency Management Coordinator Rob Brekke told reporters Friday that officials have processed 7,000 evacuees and expect more over the weekend.