A fire rages in the largest landfill in the Indian city of Mumbai, January 28. (NASA)

A massive fire at a garbage dump in Mumbai, India was so intense it was by a NASAEarth observation satellite.

The smoke plume from the blaze is shown in the satellite photograph to envelop much of the city, leaving millions of people exposed to hazardous levels of smog. The fire originated at theDeonar dumping ground, the city's largest junkpile, and has had a "devastating" effect on air quality in the city, according to a by the Mumbai Mirror.

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The Hindu newspaper also that 74 schools have had to be temporarily shut down due to the dangerous smog levels.

NASA's Adam Voilandobserves that the garbage dump comprises one-third of the city’s waste and"methane, plastic, and other highly flammable substances" have helped fuel the inferno.

The cause of the fire remains unknown but some authorities suspect arson.MORE ON WEATHER.COM:Russia Smoke Reaches the U.S.

The blue, green, yellow and orange colors show the aerosols associated with the smoke in eastern Russia on April 15, 2015. (NASA)