Australian bushfires raze homes, cut power to tens of thousands

Thousands of firefighters yesterday (9 January) toiled in Australia's Victoria state to gain the upper hand on bushfires that have razed homes, cut power to tens of thousands of people and burned vast swathes of bushland.

The blazes, most of which sparked midweek amid an intense heatwave in southeastern Australia, have torn through more than 300,000 hectares (741,316 acres) of bushland, authorities said on Saturday morning, adding that 10 major fires were still burning statewide.

More than 130 structures, including homes, have been destroyed, and around 38,000 residences and businesses were without power due to the fires, authorities said. They added that the fires were the worst to hit the state since the Black Summer blazes of 2019–20, which destroyed an area the size of Turkey and killed 33 people.

Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan said thousands of firefighters were in the field working to contain the fires.

"Where we can, fires will be brought under control," Allan said at a televised media conference from the state capital Melbourne.

Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the nation faced a day of "extreme and dangerous" fire weather, especially in Victoria, where much of the state has been declared a disaster zone.

"My thoughts are with Australians in these regional communities at this very difficult time," Albanese said in televised remarks from Canberra.

One of the largest fires, near the town of Longwood, about 112 km (69.6 miles) north of Melbourne, has burned 130,000 hectares (320,000 acres) of bushland, destroying 30 structures, vineyards and agricultural land, authorities said.

Dozens of communities near the fires have been evacuated, and many of the state's parks and campgrounds are closed.

A heatwave warning was in place on Saturday for large parts of Victoria, while fire weather warnings were active for neighbouring New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, the national weather forecaster said.