After the fires, the storm. Parts of Australia's east coast were swept by storms on Saturday January 18, causing flooding. The rest of the country remains very dry, however, and many fires are still active across the country.
>> See: "Australia: the fires in figures"
The states of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, the most affected by the flames, are now facing heavy rain which has caused floods, power cuts and the precautionary closure of certain major highways.
No major damage has been reported yet, while Queensland authorities have warned that the heaviest rains in several months are expected to continue over the weekend.
There were 75 fires against 100 on Saturday a few days earlier, said the New South Wales State Rural Fire Service, the most populous in Australia and the hardest hit by the environmental crisis.
"Rain continues to fall over a number of burned areas," he added, adding that "favorable conditions" of rain and cooler temperatures helped contain the remaining flames.
Possible worsening of the crisis
A fire continues in particular in the Kangaroo Island National Park, a veritable sanctuary for exceptional flora and fauna. The flames have already killed a large part of the koalas, birds and marsupials endemic to this island located to the south, off Adelaide.
>> See: "In Australia, fires have ravaged part of the ecosystem"
Aggravated by global warming, this forest fire crisis has been fueled by particularly hot and dry weather in recent months on the immense island continent.
Forest fires ravaging the country have so far killed 29 people, destroyed more than 2,500 homes and burned millions of hectares. Authorities, however, have warned that the crisis may worsen again, with Australia only in the middle of its summer.
With AFP and Reuters
Newsletter Don't miss anything from international news
Don't miss anything from international newssubscribe
google-play-badge_FR