BushFire Devastation - Hell On Earth

One of the most catastrophic weeks in Australian bushfire history has destroyed vast areas, but worse could still be to come

- Paul Merrill

As dozens of wildfires burn out of control across eastern Australia, experts have warned that the situation is set to escalate.

As WHO went to press, over a million hectares of land had been scorched, more than 500 homes destroyed and the death toll looked set to rise towards 10 – and over 70 blazes were still spreading across NSW and Queensland.

A senior emergency official told WHO on Tuesday, it could be the most devastating bushfire season on record.

“This week is by far the most catastrophic in my 31 years on the force,” Inspector Bob Mey from Fire and Rescue NSW says. “It’s only November so the worst really could be yet to come. None of us have enough resources when fires are at this extreme level.”

As states of emergency were declared down the eastern seaboard, thousands of residents were evacuated as dire warnings were issues across the Illawarra, Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley and across parts of Sydney, with 600 schools closed and air quality levels at potentially lethal levels.

High winds were carrying sparks an incredible 20 kilometres ahead of fire fronts, starting new blazes as they went.