In brief
Recent bushfires sweeping through southeastern Australia have led to the death of one person and the destruction of over 300 buildings. With a state of emergency declared in Victoria, emergency services are grappling with ongoing blazes exacerbated by extreme weather conditions, potentially lasting for weeks. The fires are reported to be the worst since the catastrophic fires of 2019-2020.
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 said 30 active fires were burning across the state, 10 of which were of particular concern. She reported that 350,000 hectares have been burnt across the state.
"We will see fires continue for some time across the state and that is why we are not through the worst of this by a long way," she told Australian media.
Human remains were found in the village of Gobur, near Longwood, leading to a community grieving for the loss. Allan praised the emergency workers for their difficult and confronting work in such challenging conditions.
The latest events in Victoria are reminiscent of the devastating fires of 2019-2020, which resulted in a significant loss of life and damage across large areas. The region is currently facing the most severe fire conditions seen since that period, urging immediate action from authorities.