South-east Australia is reeling after bushfires tore through dozens of communities, leaving one person dead and nearly 300 homes and buildings destroyed. The blazes, concentrated mainly in Victoria but spreading into New South Wales, have consumed land almost twice the size of Greater London.
Authorities declared a state of emergency in Victoria as thousands of firefighters battled the flames, supported by more than 70 aircraft. Residents in over a dozen towns have been urged to evacuate, as extreme heat, strong winds, and dry conditions threaten to keep the fires burning for weeks.
Victoria’s Premier, Jacinta Allan, said 30 active fires were burning across the state, ten of which are particularly dangerous. “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 local media. By Sunday morning, officials reported that 350,000 hectares had been scorched.
Tragedy struck in the village of Gobur, near Longwood, about 110km north of Melbourne, where human remains were discovered. Authorities have not yet identified the victim. Allan praised emergency workers for their efforts, calling the recovery work “difficult and confronting” and acknowledging the grief felt by the Gobur community.
The small town of Harcourt in Victoria’s central highlands has been among the hardest hit. Firefighter Tyrone Rice lost his own home while battling one of the blazes. “It was like a kick in the guts,” he told local media. Local fire captain Andrew Wilson described the scene as “gut-wrenching,” with entire streets reduced to ash and twisted metal.
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Smoke from the fires is affecting air quality across Victoria, including Melbourne, and authorities warned the region faces conditions reminiscent of the 2019–2020 bushfires, which destroyed an area the size of Turkey and killed 33 people.
Journalists visiting the affected towns have described widespread devastation. Jack Ward of 9 News told the BBC World Service that in many areas “all that’s left of these houses is a tin roof lying on the ground,” highlighting the scale of the destruction.
As firefighters continue to battle the infernos, communities remain on edge, grappling with loss, displacement, and the relentless force of nature. The region faces a long road to recovery, with the full cost of the disaster still unfolding.
