General

A significant heatwave is affecting southeastern Australia, leading to bushfires, the evacuation of hundreds of residents from rural areas, and record-high temperatures. Melbourne experienced its hottest day in almost 17 years, with temperatures soaring above 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit). In the northwest Mallee region of Victoria, temperatures reached a staggering 48.9 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit), setting a new state record, according to early reports from Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology. This heatwave is the most severe since the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, which resulted in 173 fatalities in Victoria. The extreme temperatures have raised the fire danger in some areas of the state to critical levels. Many communities are still recovering from significant bushfires that occurred earlier this month, also caused by intense heat. Chris Hardman, the chief fire officer of Forest Fire Management Victoria, reported that six major fires are currently active, with three of them out of control. He highlighted concerns over a rapidly spreading fire in the Otways region, which has already burned around 10,000 hectares (24,000 acres) and destroyed at least three properties. “Firefighters worked incredibly hard to contain that fire overnight... but as the weather warmed up and the atmospheric inversion lifted, gusty winds came in and the fire spread beyond its original containment lines,” he stated during a news briefing. Hardman cautioned that predicted strong winds of up to 70 kph (43 mph) in the evening could further endanger homes by spreading the fire.