Updated: 09/12/2017 02:09 PM | First Published: 09/12/2017 12:58 PM

Pictures of the Virgin Islands from space

Destruction of the Virgin Islands seen from space after Hurricane Irma

NASA’s Operational Land Imager captured photos from space of some of the hardest-hit Caribbean islands. This is an image of the Virgin Islands before and after Irma passed over them.

NASA revealed that “lush green tropical vegetation can be ripped away by a storm's strong winds, leaving the satellite with a view of more bare ground.” It also noted that the salt spray whipped up by Irma can coat and cause decaying of the leaves while they are on the trees.