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A dramatic sunset near the Statue of Liberty was partially obscured by smoke drifting from a large wildfire in New Jersey, prompting air quality alerts across New York City and surrounding areas.
The smoke began moving into the city early Thursday morning, significantly impacting air quality in the Brooklyn borough and beyond. Officials have issued Air Quality Health Advisories for New York City, Westchester County, Rockland County, and Long Island - a region that collectively houses more than 20 million people.
The alerts were jointly issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of Health, urging residents - especially vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory conditions - to limit outdoor activities.
This event is a stark reminder of how climate-related disasters, such as wildfires, can affect even densely populated urban areas far from the fire's origin.
Photo by Adam Gray / Getty Images North America via AFP.
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