In brief
Australia is grappling with devastating bushfires that have claimed at least one life and destroyed 300 buildings in recent days. The fires primarily affect locations in Victoria and New South Wales, marking one of the worst fire seasons since the catastrophic blazes of 2019-2020. Authorities have declared a state of emergency as firefighters battle intense conditions exacerbated by high temperatures and strong winds. Emergency services warn that the fires could persist for several weeks, threatening more communities and impacting air quality across large areas.
One person has died and 300 properties have been destroyed in bushfires that have torn across south-east Australia.
The fires have raged in dozens of locations across the country for several days, mostly in the state of Victoria, but also in New South Wales, burning through land almost twice the size of Greater London.
A state of emergency has been declared in Victoria as thousands of firefighters and more than 70 aircraft battle the blaze. Residents in more than a dozen communities have been advised to leave their homes.
Authorities fear the fires, which are being fuelled by very hot, dry and windy conditions, could burn for several weeks.
Victoria's Premier Jacinta Allan reported that 30 active fires were burning across the state, with 10 posing significant threats. As of Sunday morning, 350,000 hectares had been burnt.
The worst impacts have been observed in the small town of Harcourt, where firefighter Tyrone Rice lost his home while battling the very fires that destroyed it. He described the emotional toll as a 'kick in the guts'.
Additionally, the ongoing smoke from these fires is severely affecting air quality across Victoria, including in metropolitan Melbourne.
