Australian authorities warn that the bushfires ravaging the southeast of the country are expected to remain uncontrolled for several more weeks, despite the mobilization of thousands of firefighters and significant aerial resources. Since the middle of the week, more than 300,000 hectares have burned in the state of Victoria, destroying over 130 buildings and leaving tens of thousands of homes without power.
According to the Premier of Victoria, Jacinta AllanMore than thirty major fires were still burning on Sunday. In the neighboring state of New South Wales, several fires near the border with Victoria reached the highest alert level, prompting authorities to increase preventative evacuations.
Fire services believe the situation could last. Chris HardmanThe head of Forest Fire Management Victoria explained that controlling the flames will depend on a sustained change in weather conditions. As long as the heat, drought, and winds persist, the fires will remain difficult to contain.
A total ban on open fires is in effect throughout the state of Victoria. More than 70 aircraft are supporting ground crews as smoke severely degrades air quality, including in the metropolis of Melbourne. Health authorities are urging residents to limit their movements and protect themselves from fine particulate matter.
One of the largest fires, near the town of Longwood, about 110 kilometers north of Melbourne, has already ravaged 130,000 hectares, destroying homes, vineyards, and farmland. The damage is reminiscent of the scale of the "Black Summer" fires of 2019-2020, the worst recorded in the region in decades.
The Australian Prime Minister Anthony albanese expressed solidarity with the affected populations and praised the commitment of the relief efforts. However, the forecast remains cautious: without a rapid improvement in the weather, Australians in the southeast must prepare for a crisis that could last well beyond the next few days.
