Bird, Beast, and Humans Perish in Raging Flames as Australia’s Landscape is Reduced to Ashes

November 14, 2019

Since the start of November, fires have been frequent throughout Australia, and the most densely populated areas around Sydney have set up the highest disaster warnings. One tragic scene took place in New South Wales nature reserve. A deadly fire spread inside the reserve where 600 precious Koala bears dwelled.

At present, more than half of the fur babies have perished in the flames.

Due to the prolonged drought in Australia, with the dry and high temperatures, dozens of bush fires broke out across the country. On the morning of November 10, more than 70 fires were blazing in New South Wales and more and than 50 fires were burning in Northern Queensland. The raging bush fire continues to burn and nearly 100 fires have still that not been extinguished. At least three people are dead and around 150 houses have been burned to the ground.

Thousands of Australians have been displaced.

According to local CNN news reports, 2,000-hectares of land has burned to a cinder in New South Wales. Sadly, countless life forms in Lake Innes Nature Reserve, which had as many as 600 Koala bears and that includes many rare animals and plants, were not spared. The fire has swallowed up two-thirds of the area in the protected area, reducing all the wild animals and plants to ashes.

According to Sue Ashton, the head of the local Koala hospital, the estimated 600 koalas in the Innis Lake Nature Reserve, at least half of them could not be saved. The relentless fire devoured everything in its path including wild animal species. “The koala and other wild animals and plants have been burned to ashes by fire. This is absolutely terrible and terrifying!”  she said.

Bush fires in Australia are fairly common this time of year but recently fires have been more frequent and harsh, especially in Eastern Australia, due to prolonged drought, strong winds, humidity, and high temperatures. 

In Queensland, approximately 5,000 families were evacuated on the weekend and thousands of people spent the night at evacuation centers.

On Sunday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said they would call the army to support New South Wales and Queensland.

The fires in these two states are extremely serious. At present, 1,300 firefighters are fighting to extinguish the fires. Hundreds of civilians also volunteered to help with disaster relief. “The only thing I want to think about today is to mourn the dead.” Morrison also expressed his condolences to the deceased.

Australia’s largest city, Sydney, is blazing in most parts of the countryside. The New South Wales Rural Fire Department issued a notice saying: “The fire will spread rapidly, threatening housing and life.”

He went on to warn citizens, “On Sunday, the state’s fire station will be in Greater Sydney. The fire hazard has been raised to the highest level of “catastrophic” warning levels. Special warnings were also made: “For your survival, an early retreat is the only option.”

This is the first warning level ever set for Greater Sydney since the introduction of the new warning scoring system in the region 10 years ago. 

This rating requires people to evacuate in advance to avoid possible fire areas or to prepare a safe location when they are unable to leave. More nearby areas, such as Illawarra and Shoalhaven, have faced catastrophic fire warnings.

A fire ban has been fully implemented throughout the state, and thousands of residents have been evacuated.