Firefighters battle out-of-control bushfires in Australia's Victoria state

26/12/2024 16:47

Firefighters were facing difficulty as they battled blazes across the Australian state of Victoria on Thursday, and braced for further challenging conditions, Victoria Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said.



A total fire ban was in place across Victoria, as high temperatures and strong winds were expected to create the worst conditions for bushfires seen in years.

Nugent told reporters that gusty northerly winds were pushing some of the fire at the Grampians National Park south in Victoria.



"It's also making it difficult for any new starts that occur across the state, which (we) have had a number of already," he said.



"This will be followed by a change in wind conditions that will move across to the southwest ... which, again, (makes) it really problematic for firefighters with any of those existing fires."



The Grampians National Park fire has already burnt about 55,000 hectares of land, causing significant damage including environmental damage, livestock losses, and damage to outbuildings and sheds.