Australia declares “disaster” state due to large-scale bushfires

Australian authorities in the southeast of the country have declared a state of disaster following widespread bushfires that have engulfed vast areas of forests and residential zones, resulting in material and human losses in the southern states.

Reports indicated that an intense heatwave hit the state of Victoria, with temperatures exceeding 40°C, while strong winds contributed to the rapid spread of flames across forests and residential areas.

These fires are among the most severe since the so-called “Black Summer” that affected the region in late 2019.

The fires have consumed approximately 150,000 hectares of forest near the town of Longwood, about 150 kilometers north of Melbourne, and have destroyed dozens of homes in the small town of Ruffy in Australia.

In response to these developments, Victoria’s Premier, Jacinta Allan, granted firefighting teams the authority to carry out emergency evacuations in high-risk areas in an effort to reduce losses and ensure the safety of residents.

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