Devastating Bushfires Claim Lives and Destroy Homes in Australia

Mon Feb 02 2026 16:55:48 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Tragic bushfires in south-east Australia have resulted in one fatality and the destruction of over 300 properties, leading to a state of emergency in Victoria.

Bushfires in Victoria and New South Wales, fueled by severe weather conditions, have devastated communities, resulting in one death and extensive property loss. Emergency services continue to battle the blazes amidst fears of prolonged fire activity.

One person has died and 300 properties have been destroyed in bushfires that have torn across south-east Australia. The fires have raged in dozens of locations across the country for several days, mostly in the state of Victoria, but also in New South Wales, burning through land almost twice the size of Greater London.

A state of emergency has been declared in Victoria as thousands of firefighters and more than 70 aircraft battle the blaze. Residents in more than a dozen communities have been advised to leave their homes.

Authorities fear the fires, which are being fueled by very hot, dry and windy conditions, could burn for several weeks.

Victoria's Premier Jacinta Allan said 30 active fires were burning across the state, 10 of which were of particular concern. She said 350,000 hectares had been burnt across the state as of 08:00 local time on Sunday. We will see fires continue for some time across the state and that is why we are not through the worst of this by a long way, she told Australian media.

Human remains were found in the village of Gobur, near the town of Longwood, some 110km north of Melbourne, and the victim has not yet been identified. Allan praised the emergency workers who retrieved the body, stating it takes a heavy toll on them.

Smoke from the fires is impacting air quality in many areas across Victoria, including metropolitan Melbourne. According to authorities, these fires are among the worst to hit south-east Australia since the 2019-2020 blazes that left substantial devastation and led to numerous fatalities.

Many communities, like Harcourt, have suffered extreme losses. Local firefighter Tyrone Rice expressed his grief after losing his home, remarking it was a kick in the guts. Reporters have described destruction across various towns, describing scenes as catastrophic with houses reduced to mere remnants.

While linking individual fires to climate change can be complex, scientists agree that climate change is increasing the frequency of hot, dry conditions that make bushfires more common.