At least one person has died and about 300 homes and buildings have been destroyed as bushfires continue to rip through south-east Australia, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency in Victoria.
The fires have been burning across dozens of locations for several days, largely in Victoria but also in parts of New South Wales, scorching land almost twice the size of Greater London.
Thousands of firefighters, supported by more than 70 aircraft, are battling the blazes as residents in over a dozen communities are urged to evacuate. Authorities warn the fires, fuelled by extreme heat, dry conditions and strong winds, could burn for weeks.
Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan says at least 30 active fires are currently burning across the state, with 10 considered major threats. As of Sunday morning, she says 350,000 hectares have been razed.
“We will see fires continue for some time across the state. We are not through the worst of this by a long way,” Allan says.
Police confirm that human remains were discovered in Gobur, near Longwood, about 110 kilometres north of Melbourne. The victim has not yet been identified.
Bushfire smoke is also affecting air quality across Victoria, including metropolitan Melbourne. Officials describe the situation as the worst bushfire crisis in the region since the 2019–2020 fires, which killed 33 people nationwide.
One of the hardest-hit areas is Harcourt, where firefighter Tyrone Rice lost his home while actively battling the fires.
“It was like a kick in the guts,” Rice says, adding that he knows many others are suffering similar losses.
Local fire officials describe the devastation as catastrophic, with entire homes reduced to rubble and twisted metal, underscoring the growing threat posed by Australia’s intensifying bushfire seasons.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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