Australian authorities have reported that the fires, which mostly broke out mid-week during a severe heatwave in the country's southeast, have burned more than 300,000 hectares of forest. They noted that 10 major fires are still raging in the state of Victoria. The fires have destroyed over 130 buildings, including homes, and left about 38,000 homes and businesses without electricity. One of the largest fires, near the town of Longwood about 112 kilometers north of Melbourne, has burned 130,000 hectares of bushland, destroying 30 buildings, vineyards, and farmland. Dozens of communities near the fires have been evacuated, and several parks and campsites in the state have been closed. Authorities have described the current fires as the worst to hit Victoria since the "Black Summer" fires of 2019-2020, which devastated large parts of the state and killed 33 people. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that "the nation is facing extreme weather and a danger caused by the fires, particularly in the state of Victoria," where a large part of the state has been declared a disaster area. In turn, Victoria's Premier Jacinta Allan said that thousands of firefighters are working on the ground to contain the blazes.
