Adelaide: A severe heatwave has swept across southern Australian states, pushing temperatures in some cities above 40 degrees Celsius. Health alerts were issued, power outages occurred, and bushfires reignited.
According to Thai News Agency, meteorological officials have described this as the worst weather in six years, since the devastating bushfires that devastated vast areas of the southeastern country and claimed 33 lives, known as the "Black Summer." The National Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe to very severe heatwave warnings for New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania, along with warnings of severe bushfire dangers across Victoria and South Australia.
A senior meteorologist explained that the increased danger from bushfires is being driven by a mass of extremely hot air spreading from Western Australia, causing maximum temperatures to soar above 45 degrees Celsius.
In Victoria, where temperatures soared to 44 degrees Celsius and 41 degrees Celsius in Melbourne, the state capital, authorities advised residents to stay indoors and drink plenty of water. Members of Victoria's Emergency Management Commission revealed that firefighters are battling multiple bushfires across the state, and the situation is expected to worsen on Friday. Furthermore, a statewide heatwave alert has been issued, urging Victorians to monitor the situation closely and seek refuge in cooler environments.
Temperatures in other cities also soared, with Sydney at 31 degrees Celsius, Perth at 32 degrees Celsius, and Adelaide reaching a high of 43 degrees Celsius. The extreme heat forced some public places, such as libraries, to extend their operating hours to allow people to seek refuge from the heat. Some attractions, like Monarto Safari Park, had to temporarily close. Additionally, more than 2,000 homes in Adelaide reportedly experienced power outages.