Our country is burning. I am completely saddened and devastated to see what is happening to Australia. Although rain has brought some small relief over the last day or so, we still have a long Summer to go. As of the 6th of January, these are the stats which will show you the extreme scale of the Australian bushfire crisis:
- At least 23 people have died
- More than 1500 homes have been destroyed
NSW / ACT
- 18 people have died
- 1482 homes confirmed to have been destroyed
- Nearly 5 million hectares of land has burned (which is bigger than the size of Belgium)
- More than 136 bushfires still burning
Victoria
- Two people have died
- More than 110 homes and businesses confirmed to have been destroyed
- More than a million hectares of land has burned
- About 30 bushfires are still burning
South Australia
- Three people have died
- 88 homes confirmed to have been destroyed
- More than 200,000 hectares of land has burned
- 25 bushfires are still burning
Queensland
- 45 homes confirmed to have been destroyed
- 250,000 hectares of land has burned
- 33 bushfires still burning
Western Australia
- One home confirmed to have been destroyed
- 1.5 million hectares of land has burned
- 30 bushfires still burning
Northern Territory
- Five homes confirmed to have been destroyed
- No current bushfires
Tasmania
- Two homes confirmed to have been destroyed
- 30,000 hectares of land has burned
- 23 bushfires are still burning
These statistics are absolutely devastating. It’s amazing to see the amount of support that Australia has received from around the world. If you haven’t yet donated, you can support the Red Cross Australian Bushfire Appeal to help with this Australian bushfire crisis. We pray for all the people who have been affected by this country-wide tragedy.