Australian authorities activated disaster relief payments to residents of six regions of New South Wales on Sunday after wildfires ravaged thousands of hectares of bushfires in the country’s most populous state.
Australia’s public broadcaster ABC News said the disaster relief fund helps residents access emergency housing and essential goods, as well as provides loans to small businesses and primary producers.
Officials say the wildfire has been brought under control
According to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSWRFS), more than 50 bushfires were burning in the state as of Saturday due to the extreme heat.
But officials later said they were working to de-escalate the situation and believed the fire was “under control.”
What do we know about bushfires in New South Wales?
The NSWRFS confirmed on Sunday that 16 homes were destroyed and nine others were damaged in Coolewong in the Central Coast region of New South Wales, about 45 kilometers north of Sydney, the state capital and Australia’s largest city.
The fire caused local authorities to urge local residents to leave the area.
Many houses were destroyed in the forest fire
Federal and local governments say initial assessments show many homes have been destroyed, along with “extensive damage” to private property, critical infrastructure, fencing, agricultural properties and national parks.
The extent of the damage will become clear as officials continue to take stock of the devastation, officials said.
Australian PM says fortunately there was no loss of life or property
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the ABC it was fortunate there were no casualties, which is “always the priority”.
“This summer, certainly, like all the summers we have seen in recent times, is going to be tough,” he said.
New South Wales is one of the most wildfire-prone regions in Australia, with the risk increasing due to climate change.
Australia’s 2019–2020 “Black Summer” fires destroyed an area the size of Türkiye and killed 33 people.
Edited by: Roshni Majumdar