South-east Australia is burning — and the worst may still lie ahead.
One person has died, more than 300 homes are gone, and bushfires have scorched land almost twice the size of Greater London.
The hardest hit is Victoria, where a state of emergency is in force.
Around 30 active fires are still burning, with 10 considered especially dangerous, according to Premier Jacinta Allan.
“We are not through the worst of this by a long way,” she warned, as firefighters brace for weeks of battling flames fueled by extreme heat, dry air and fierce winds.
Bushfire Devastation Mounts
More than 350,000 hectares have already burned. Entire communities have been told to evacuate.
Smoke has choked towns — even Melbourne’s air quality has taken a hit.
The human cost is raw. Police confirmed human remains were found in Gobur, near Longwood.
“This is difficult and confronting work,” Allan said, noting the toll on emergency crews.
In the town of Harcourt, firefighter Tyrone Rice lost his own home while battling blazes elsewhere.
“It’s a kick in the guts,” he said — a feeling shared by many.
Officials say these are the worst fires in the region since 2019–20.
Scientists warn climate change is stacking the deck toward more days like these.
As Australia watches the skies, one question hangs heavy: how many more summers like this can communities endure?
