/ 31 October 2023

Red alert in the Sunshine State

A kangaroo rushes past a burning house in Lake Conjola, Australia, on Tuesday, Dec. 31 2019. This fire season has been one of the worst in Australia's history, with at least 15 people killed, hundreds of homes destroyed and millions of acres burned.  (Matthew Abbott/The New York Times)
A kangaroo rushes past a burning house in Lake Conjola, Australia, on Tuesday, Dec. 31 2019. This fire season has been one of the worst in Australia's history, with at least 15 people killed, hundreds of homes destroyed and millions of acres burned. (Matthew Abbott/The New York Times)

Queensland is currently in the thick of it with around 80 bushfires burning – and things are expected to get worse with strong winds and rising temperatures on the way. Over the past 10 days, more than 700 fires have burned, with the Darling Downs region particularly impacted – 46 homes have been torched, and 2 people have died. Authorities reckon some fires have been deliberately lit, and investigations are on the go. Locals have raised concerns about not getting enough info from officials about the fires, but there is help on the way – fire crews from Victoria will lend a hand later this week, and more interstate help has been requested. Extreme fire conditions are predicted for today in several areas across the state. It’s going to be a hot one, so please stay safe if you’re in those at-risk areas.

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