Australia bushfires: Cooler weather brings respite, situation still volatile
Prime Minister Scott Morrison deflected blame over his handling of the bushfires. Another person has died and hundreds of properties are feared lost after a catastrophic day of bushfires in Australia's southeast.
Watch video01:54
Australia’s national catastrophe rages on
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has deflected blame and stood by the government's stance on climate change on Sunday, as the country's devastating bushfires claimed another life, raising the death toll to 24.
'Blame doesn't help anybody'
Morrison, who has been severely criticized for his "slow" response to the fires, told a press conference on Sunday that it was not the time to blame anyone.
"There has been a lot of blame being thrown around," Morrison said. "And now is the time to focus on the response that is being made. Blame doesn't help anybody at this time and over-analysis of these things is not a productive exercise," the premier added.
"There is no dispute in this country about the issue of climate change globally and its effect on global weather patterns and that includes how it impacts in Australia," said Morrison, who was earlier slammed for downplaying the link between climate change and Australia's escalating threats of drought and wildfires.
The Australian prime minister also defended his government's performance on climate change. "I have to correct the record here. I have seen a number of people suggest that somehow the government does not make this connection. The government has always made this connection and that has never been in dispute.''
Dozens killed
Cooler weather brought some relief to fire-ravaged Australia on Sunday after an
"awful day" of blazesclaimed another life, bringing the death toll to 24. But authorities have warned that conditions remained volatile.
Thousands of firefighters were battling almost 200 blazes, many of them still burning out of control, in the southeastern states of New South Wales (NSW), Victoria and South Australia.
"The weather conditions have improved in NSW and Victoria, but there are still many fires raging and there's a significant firefighting effort continuing,'' Prime Minister Scott Morrison,
who has faced heavy criticism for his handling of the crisis, told a news conference.
https://twitter.com/NSWRFS
At 10:30am there are 150 fires burning, 64 are uncontained. After a difficult day for firefighters yesterday, around 2,300 firefighters are active in the field today. Conditions have eased, however a statewide total fire ban remains in place.
#nswrfs #nswfires
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Watch video02:16
Fires — and controversy — rage across Australia
Extreme conditions
Thousands fled their homes on Saturday as soaring temperatures and strong winds produced some of the most dangerous conditions seen this bushfire season.
A 47-year-old man died trying to protect his friend's property in rural NSW, while in Victoria six people remained unaccounted for.
"It's not something we have experienced before," said NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. "The weather activity we're seeing, the extent and spread of the fires, the speed at which they're [moving], the way they are attacking communities that have never seen fire, is unprecedented."
Read more:
Oceans play role in Australian bushfires drama, say experts
Sydney experienced its highest-ever temperature of 48.9 degrees Celsius (120 Fahrenheit) on Saturday, along with winds of up to 80 kilometers (50 miles) per hour, prompting fears a fast-moving blaze
could reach the city's outskirts.
"It was an awful day yesterday," NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told reporters on Sunday.
"We are getting reports that the property losses, the damage and destruction, is likely to be numbering in the hundreds as a result of yesterday's fire activity and fire spread."
Read more:
Australia: My country is burning
Watch video01:46
Morrison confronted by angry NSW residents
Cool change overnight
A southerly change overnight brought cooler air and some light rain to parts of NSW and neighboring Victoria, as well as hope that firefighters will be able to bring some of the blazes under control.
Australia's deadly fires have burned through more than 5.25 million hectares (13 million acres) of land since September, causing catastrophic damage to property and wildlife.
Prime Minister Morrison took the unprecedented step on Saturday of calling up 3,000 of Australia's army reservists to support firefighters — a move RFS Commissioner Fitzsimmons, who is leading NSW firefighting efforts, says he only found out about from the media.
"It was disappointing and [there was] some surprise to hear about these things through public announcements in the middle of what was one of our worst days this season," he said. "We spent a fair amount of the day yesterday trying to seek clarity."
Watch video01:35
Australian fires trap thousands
Queen honors firefighters
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, who is Australia's head of state, has said she was "deeply saddened" by the bushfire crisis.
"My thanks go out to the emergency services, and those who put their own lives in danger to help communities in need," the 93-year-old monarch said in a statement on Sunday. "Prince Philip and I send our thoughts and prayers to all Australians at this difficult time."
Celebrities have also praised firefighters and pledged money to help affected communities. US singer Pink tweeted Saturday that she was donating US$500,000 (€450,000), a pledge that was matched by Australian actor Nicole Kidman.
Australia bushfires: Cooler weather brings respite, situation still volatile | DW | 05.01.2020
