Southeast Australia Hit By Heat Waves, Forest Fire Risk Rises

UNSPLASH/Manny Becerra ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Australia's southeastern region on Saturday was hit by heat waves that increased the risk of forest fires. Authorities issued an order for fire prevention efforts in most states of Victoria.

Australia faces a season of high-risk forest fires that led Victorian authorities to extinguish a major fire that hit last week's Grampians National Park. The fires destroyed homes and agricultural land.

As reported by Reuters, the national weather agency said temperatures would reach 14 degrees Celsius (25.2 degrees Fahrenheit) above average in several areas on Saturday, January 4. Meanwhile, the temperature of Australia's second most populous state capital, Victoria, will reach 37 degrees Celsius.

At Melbourne Airport, temperatures reached 32.8 Celsius at 10:20 p.m. local time, more than six degrees above the January maximum average temperature, according to weather forecast data.

In two districts west of Victoria, including Wimmera, authorities call the fire hazard an extreme, which is the highest risk rating.

A more significant change in wind that drives heat across the southeast region will only occur on Sunday evening, Meteorological Bureau official Mirzanny Bradbury told Australian Broadcasting Corp television.