🔥 A fierce heat wave is fueling devastating bushfires across southeast Australia, pushing temperatures beyond 40°C and igniting a crisis that feels straight out of an action movie.
In the state of Victoria alone, more than 300,000 hectares of bushland have gone up in flames since midweek, with ten major blazes still burning. So far, 130 structures, including homes and outbuildings, have been destroyed, and 38,000 houses and businesses are left in the dark as power lines go down.
Emergency-level fires are also raging near the Victoria-New South Wales border, where thermometers are hitting the mid-40s. Dozens of communities have been evacuated, and state parks have closed as thousands of firefighters race against time to contain the flames.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared much of Victoria a disaster zone, warning of "extreme and dangerous" fire weather, and sending his support to affected regional residents.
The Bureau of Meteorology has heat wave and fire weather warnings in place across large swathes of New South Wales, where Sydney recorded a scorching 42.2°C – 17 degrees above its January average. A cool southerly change is expected this weekend, offering a brief respite from the inferno.
As communities brace for relief, the message is clear: stay alert, follow evacuation orders, and look out for one another. ❤️🩹🚒
Reference(s):
Australian bushfires destroy homes, disrupt power to tens of thousands
cgtn.com
