Disaster in Australia: Forest fires destroy homes and cut off electricity to tens of thousands

Today, Saturday, thousands of firefighters continued their tireless efforts in the Australian state of Victoria to control forest fires that destroyed homes, cut off electricity to tens of thousands, and burned vast areas of forests.

Authorities said on Saturday morning that the fires, most of which broke out in the middle of the week amid a severe heat wave in southeastern Australia, had destroyed more than 300,000 hectares (741,316 acres) of forest, adding that 10 large fires were still burning across the state.

The authorities added that more than 130 buildings, including homes, were destroyed, and that electricity was cut off from about 38,000 homes and businesses due to the fires. Authorities described the fires as the worst to sweep the state since the Black Summer fires that broke out in the period from 2019 to 2020 and destroyed an area the size of Türkiye and claimed the lives of 33 people.

Victoria State Premier Jacinta Allan said thousands of firefighters were working in the field to contain the fires. “The fires will be controlled wherever possible,” she added in a press conference broadcast on television from Melbourne, the state capital.
Earlier Saturday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the nation was facing a day of “extreme and dangerous” fire weather, especially in Victoria, where much of the state has been declared a disaster area.

“My heart goes out to Australians in these rural communities at this very difficult time,” Albanese said in television statements from Canberra.

Authorities said one of the largest fires, near the town of Longwood, about 112 kilometers north of Melbourne, burned 130,000 hectares (320,000 acres) of bushland, destroying 30 buildings, vineyards and farmland.

Dozens of communities near the fires were evacuated, and a number of parks and camps in the state were closed.

The Australian Meteorology Service issued a heat wave warning today, Saturday, in large parts of the state of Victoria, while fire weather warnings were issued in the neighboring state of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.