Australia declares fresh state of emergency over fires
December 19, 2019
New South Wales has declared a second state of emergency as devastating fires continue to wreak havoc. Officials have warned holidaymakers to consider new plans as the emergency measures stretch beyond Christmas.
Image: Reuters/A. Mitchell
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Australia fires: State of emergency triggers renewed response
As a record-breaking heat wave and strong winds stoke bushfires across eastern Australia, the government has enacted new measures to contain the flames. Firefighting officials have described "dangerous circumstances."
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/D. Lewins
Australia in flames: State of emergency
After months of raging blazes spreading across eastern Australia and devastating human and wildlife populations, the government has stepped in and declared a state of emergency. Extreme heat has coupled with strong gusts of wind and effectively stoked the unrelenting blazes in New South Wales.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/D. Lewins
Devastating blazes
The blazes have devastated communities across the eastern state. For some people, the damage may be too great to bounce back but that won't stop them from trying. Wildlife populations, on the other hand, have been decimated, including koalas, which are considered vulnerable to extinction.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/R. Rycroft
Uncontrollable fires
For months, firefighters have tried to put out the fires. Firefighting officials have warned that a dangerous blend of factors has made attempts to contain the blazes incredibly difficult. On Thursday, Australia posted its hottest day on record with a national average of 41.9 degrees Celsius (107.4 Fahrenheit), presenting exacerbating the "very difficult and dangerous circumstances."
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/D. Lewins
Climate factors in
Scientists have noted that climate change has exacerbated fire-prone conditions across Australia, considered the most-arid continent. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, a vehement supporter of Australia's coal industry, has come under fire for failing to acknowledge climate change's role in contributing to the historic blazes and doing little to promote climate-friendly policies. ls/sms (Reuters, AFP)
Image: picture-alliance/ZumaPress/NASA Earth
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The Australian state of New South Wales declared a second state of emergency in two months on Thursday as bushfires continue to rage and temperatures broke records for the second consecutive day.
Authorities are especially concerned about fires near the city of Sydney as nearly 100 bushfires continue to burn in the eastern state.
"The biggest concern over the next few days is the unpredictability, with extreme wind conditions, extremely hot temperatures," State Premier Gladys Berejiklian told a news conference.
The state of emergency will last seven days, meaning that it will continue over Christmas. The last state of emergency was declared in mid-November due to "catastrophic" bushfire risk.
Wildlife populations have been devastated by the firesImage: picture-alliance/dpa/AP/R. Rycroft
'Public health emergency'
More than 30,000 square kilometers (11,500 square miles) have burnt over the last few months in Australia's most populous state. Some 2,000 firefighters are currently battling the blazes.
"The worst of the fire weather conditions, the extreme fire danger ratings we are expecting today, are centered around the greater Sydney environment," said New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.
Hospitals have recorded large increases in emergency room visits for respiratory problems.
More than 70 fires are still raging across the state of Queensland, north of New South Wales.
'Where the bloody hell are you, Prime Minister?'
A few days after protests erupted in Sydney over initiating climate action in the face of the ongoing fires, schoolchildren gathered in Sydney to demand policy change on Thursday.
They met in front of Prime Minister Scott Morrison's Sydney residence.
