Australia has recorded its hottest day for the second time in a week as the country’s most populous state declared a seven-day emergency with bushfires raging on Sydney’s doorstep.
The average maximum daytime temperature hit 41.9C yesterday — a whole 1C higher that the previous national record of 40.9C set on Tuesday. The record before that was 40.3C, in 2013.
The heatwave is fuelling the country’s wildfires crisis which today saw up to 40 homes in the Blue Mountains destroyed as a “ring of fire” around the country’s biggest city continued to burn.
Nearly 120 fires remained ablaze by late afternoon, more than half of which were uncontrolled. With temperatures forecast to top 45C in some areas, officials warned residents to be on high alert.
The state of emergency declaration for New South Wales gives firefighters powers to control government resources, force evacuations, close roads and shut down utilities across the state.
“The firefront has been spreading very quickly and intensely,” NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told reporters. Two firefighters were airlifted to hospital with burns to their faces and airways.
The RFS posted footage on its official Twitter account showing firefighters tackling one of the three blazes ringing Sydney. A waterbomber aircraft was dwarfed by thick grey and black billowing cloud as it attempted to douse flames in bushland just metres away from homes.
One megafire in the Kanangra Boyd National Park, south west of the city, had reached the outskirts of Campbelltown, a suburb of 157,000 people.
Thick smoke once again blanketed Sydney, shrouding the Opera House and bringing many outdoor activities to a halt. Many commuters have donned breathing masks in recent weeks as air quality has plunged to hazardous levels not previously seen in the city.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison faced a storm of criticism for going on a family holiday, reportedly in Hawaii, during the emergency, adding to criticism that his government is failing to deliver adequate climate change policies.
About 500 protesters gathered outside his official Sydney residence today.
One demonstrator, wearing an Hawaiian shirt, carried a sign reading, “ScoMo, where the bloody hell are you?”
