Australia’s southeast experienced a blistering heatwave on Monday, heightening bushfire risks and prompting fire bans across parts of Victoria.
The soaring temperatures revived memories of the devastating 2019-2020 “Black Summer” fires, which destroyed an area equivalent to Turkey, claimed 33 lives, and killed billions of animals.
Victoria’s capital, Melbourne, faced temperatures predicted to reach 41 degrees Celsius (105.8 degrees Fahrenheit), more than 14 degrees above the city’s January average, according to the national weather forecaster.
Authorities issued an extreme fire danger warning—the second-highest rating—in five regions of Victoria. Dean Narramore, a senior meteorologist, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp that the hot, windy conditions could ignite “big fires” ahead of a cooler change expected later in the day.
Meanwhile, heatwave alerts were issued across New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory. Narramore also noted that in New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state, “low to severe heatwave conditions” were expected on Monday, with the heatwave likely to intensify on Tuesday.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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