Sydney [Australia], January 11: Thousands of firefighters in Victoria, Australia, continued their efforts on January 10th to control devastating bushfires that have leveled homes, left tens of thousands without power, and burned vast areas of forest.
The fires broke out in the middle of this week amid intense heat sweeping across southeastern Australia . According to authorities, by the morning of January 10, more than 300,000 hectares of forest had been destroyed, while 10 major fires were still raging across Victoria.
One of the largest fires, near the town of Longwood, about 112 km north of Melbourne, burned 130,000 hectares of forest, destroying 30 structures, along with numerous vineyards and agricultural land. Dozens of communities surrounding the fire area were evacuated, while many state parks and campgrounds were forced to close.
Victorian authorities said more than 130 structures, including many homes, were destroyed. Around 38,000 households and businesses were left without power. According to Reuters, this is considered one of the most serious fires in Victoria since the "Black Summer" of 2019-2020, a disaster that burned an area equivalent to the size of Turkey and killed 33 people.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said thousands of firefighters were being deployed on the ground. "We will get the fires under control wherever we can," Allan said at a televised press conference from Melbourne on January 10.
On the same day, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned that the country was facing extreme and dangerous weather conditions as wildfires raged across multiple states. "I share the concerns of the people in these communities during this incredibly difficult time," Albanese said.
Prime Minister Albanese also announced that a state of disaster had been declared in 18 areas of Victoria on the night of January 9, and that the Australian Defence Force had been asked to provide accommodation and logistical support for firefighters.
The Australian National Weather Service announced on January 10th that a heatwave warning had been issued for large areas of Victoria, and a bushfire warning had been applied to neighboring New South Wales.
Meanwhile, in northeastern Australia, Cyclone Koji is active off the coast of Queensland. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology says the Category 2 cyclone is currently located about 275 km northeast of Townsville, moving south at approximately 13 km/h, and is expected to make landfall on the morning of January 11th. The local disaster management agency in Townsville has issued a "watch and act" alert, urging residents to be prepared to seek safe shelter.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper