Devastation in Australia: Bushfires Claim Lives and Destroy Hundreds of Properties

Mon Jan 12 2026 01:09:20 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The recent bushfires in South Australia have led to the death of one person and the destruction of over 300 buildings, with the situation worsening in several regions including Victoria and New South Wales.

Australia is facing a dire bushfire crisis, with one confirmed death and widespread destruction across southeastern regions. A state of emergency has been declared in Victoria as emergency responders combat active fires fueled by extreme weather conditions. The community of Gobur mourns the loss of life while local firefighting efforts struggle against devastating flames. Residents have been urged to evacuate as fires threaten homes and air quality deteriorates.

One person has died and 300 homes and buildings have been destroyed in bushfires that have torn across south-east Australia. The fires have raged in dozens of locations across the country for several days, mostly in the state of Victoria, but also in New South Wales, burning through land almost twice the size of Greater London.

A state of emergency has been declared in Victoria as thousands of firefighters and more than 70 aircraft battled the blaze. Residents in more than a dozen communities have been advised to leave their homes.

The authorities fear the blazes, which are being fueled by very hot, dry and windy conditions, could burn for several weeks.

Victoria's Premier, Jacinta Allan, said 30 active fires were burning across the state, ten of which were a particular concern. She stated that 350,000 hectares had been burnt across the state as of Sunday morning.

Human remains were discovered in Gobur, near Longwood, raising fears of further casualties. Emergency workers are praised for their difficult and perilous work under harrowing conditions. Meanwhile, the smoke and embers from the bushfires have worsened air quality conditions across Victoria, including in metropolitan Melbourne.

As these fires continue to burn, they are being recognized as the worst since the devastating 2019-2020 bushfires that caused extensive loss and upheaval. The bushfire situation calls for both immediate and long-term responses to address fire management and the environmental strategies needed for such calamities.