Bushfires rage in eastern Australia

One of the worst affected areas is the Western Downs - an important fruit and agricultural growing area about four hours drive west of Queensland's capital Brisbane.

About 350 people were staying in council-run evacuation centres overnight, Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Acting Commissioner Warren Buckley said. As of Tuesday, an out-of-control fire had burned more than 11,000 hectares, destroying four homes and a shed. The main fire was still about 15 kilometres from the town of Tara, but the state government had warned people in nearby rural areas to leave. Buckley warned the bushfire season was “going to be a long one”. In a separate fire, a home and four sheds were destroyed along with 3,000 hectares of land in the town of Millmerran, nearly two hours’ drive southeast of Tara.

In neighbouring New South Wales, firefighters are also battling about 70 fires, including one west of the town of Kempsey that has burned nearly 30,000 hectares of land.

Australia is facing its most intense bushfire season since 2019-20, as a series of out-of-control blazes raged across the eastern seaboard, destroying forests, killing millions of animals and blanketing cities in toxic smoke.

Last September, Australia's national weather agency confirmed that an El Nino was underway, causing soaring temperatures and the risk of a severe bushfire season and drought.

The El Nino phenomenon – which warms the waters of the South Pacific, leading to hotter weather – is likely to contribute to making 2023 the hottest year on record. Researchers have repeatedly warned that climate change increases the risk of natural disasters such as wildfires, floods and cyclones.