Australia prepares for bushfires. Victoria is still battling fires that have been raging in the Grampians National Park for more than a week. The situation is made worse by the fact that the upcoming holidays will be the hottest in years.
The start of summer in Australia has brought a heat wave and with it the danger of fires. In the southern states of the country, firefighting works more.
The biggest fire hazard
The situation is dire in Victoria, where the Grampians National Park has been burning for more than a week. The fire has burned 45,000 hectares and is still spreading. Residents of many nearby towns were ordered to evacuate and were given just two hours to gather essentials and leave the danger zone.
“We are expecting the worst,” said Luke Hegarty, a spokesman for Victoria's emergency management.
Four firefighters have been injured while battling a “suspicious” blaze in neighboring South Australia. Fire warnings and fire bans are in effect statewide.
“We are in one of the driest periods on record in South Australia,” South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said on Tuesday.
Bushfires in AustraliaPAP/EPA/JAMES ROSS
The hottest holidays in years
Experts predict that in the coming days the fire will cover the whole country, and favorable weather conditions – strong wind and extreme heat will worsen the situation. Temperatures in Melbourne and surrounding areas could reach 40C and Adelaide could reach 37C, making this Christmas the warmest since 2016, forecasters say. The hottest day will be Boxing Day – there is a total fire ban in Victoria on that day.
Main photo credit: PAP/EPA/JAMES ROSS
