Australian bush fires: Rare thunderstorm clouds formed, flora and fauna at the verge of extinction
Fires are raging in every state of Australia, with some of the greatest conflagrations in NSW and Victoria. The dust and ash from the fires have spread across the ocean and as far as New Zealand's Franz Josef Glacier.
Most of the fire is burning in rural areas with over 3,000 firefighters battling everyday trying to control the fires. American and Canadian firefighters and fire experts have been flown in over the past month to help control the blazes. All three branches of the ADF -- the navy, army, and air force -- have been working this week to rescue residents from fire-threatened areas and isolated towns cut off by closed roads.
Ecologists at the University of Sydney suggest that up to 480 million animals may have perished in the wildfires, including up to 8,000 koalas. As the fires blaze across Australia, it's not only the koala that is in danger, but most of Australia's native wildlife is being displaced.
On Saturday, 4 January, two deaths were confirmed as a result of the Kangaroo Island fires, bringing the death toll to 23. More than 1,500 homes have also been destroyed since the fire season began in September.
What caused these fires?
A normal fire can be caused due to a number of ways-like a lit cigarette and be fueled to a large fire due to lack of rain and low soil moisture along with the high temperatures and fierce winds that Australia has experienced in the last few months. The fires might last till mid of 2020 as Australia is only one month through summer and dry, hot conditions persist through March and April. The much needed rain to extinguish the fire is still months away.
Rescue Operations
On 4 January, Morrison announced the Australian government would be sending in military support. On 31 December, around 4,000 people were forced down to the lake to avoid bushfires. Mallacoota residents and tourists were evacuated by two naval vessels on 3 January.
Cooling temperatures and calmer winds brought some relief on Sunday to Australian communities devastated by wildfires. Australians know to expect summer wildfires. But the blazes arrived early this year, fed by drought and the country's hottest and driest year on record.
