Sadly, 28 people are missing because of the catastrophic fires raging through the east of Victoria.
The PM, Daniel Andrews, stated that 28 people were unaccounted for, but 2 were also confirmed dead from the fires.
Consequently, a state of disaster in the region was declared and residents from north-east Walwa are being advised to get out before it’s too late.
Andrews emphasizes that if people can leave, they must because it’s the only safe thing for them and their families and that they can’t guarantee for their safety.
However, despite the disaster announcement, people can be compelled to leave, but they won’t be arrested if they decide to stay.
Bushfires Are Continuing & Hectares Are Being Razed as never before
Unfortunately, the threat isn’t just from the ongoing fires, but from new ones that began on Friday too. More than 78,000 hectares were burned by around 50 fires in the east and north-east of Victoria.
The Australian military has been giving relief and resources for victims from the fire and assisted in the evacuation of around thousand people from Mallacoota.
A dead man’s body was found by his family in Victoria at a property near Genoa and it’s believed he suffered a medical episode while fighting the raging fires.
The temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in some areas as the winds picked up.
The PM of New South Wales declared a 7-day state of emergency across the state and it began on Friday. This is the third state of emergency this bushfire season.
Will there finally Be a Relief from the Fires?
Shocking images of the fires have been circling the globe and many show an orange glow in the sky. Sadly, newest forecasts don’t make the situation easier.
Meteorologists emphasize increasing temperatures in the south east of Australia and extreme heat. Without any rain and winds, the conditions will be the ideal fuel for fires that are already unprecedented in strength and size.
For Sarah Perkins—Kirkpatrick, a climate scientist at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, these fires aren’t just the worst in her memory, but the worst in history.
She explains that climate change is lengthening the fire seasons worldwide and strengthening the blazes. Even though usually these fires don’t happen until January or February, they’ve already began in the spring.
The Bureau of Meteorology of Australia notes that January through November was the 2nd driest period since 1902 and that 2019 was the hottest year in Australia recorded.
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