Australians struggle amidst near 50ºC heatwave

Residents across southeastern Australia are grappling with extreme heat and bushfires, supporting each other as temperatures approach all-time records.

In Gellibrand, a rural town about 200 km from Melbourne, Karlee Smith sped across her farm on a 4-wheel ATV, herding sheep away from encroaching flames.

"We had to drive through burning patches. The grass was scorched in places, intensely hot," Smith recounted.

Nearby, her father and brother battled the blaze using water from a tank pulled by a tractor. They spotted a koala crawling from a burnt bush, exhausted and disoriented on the ground.

Southeastern Australia is enduring a severe heatwave, with temperatures nearing 50ºC, forcing many to protect their properties as bushfires rapidly spread across rural Victoria.

Bushfire in Gellibrand, Victoria, southern Australia, 28/1. *Reuters*

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology reported this as the most severe heatwave in 16 years. Victoria experienced its hottest day on 27/1, with temperatures in Hopetoun and Walpeup reaching 48,9ºC, while state capital Melbourne exceeded 45ºC.

Neighboring New South Wales and South Australia also recorded extreme temperatures. Some towns saw temperatures hovering around 50ºC this week, nearing the all-time record of 50,7ºC set in Western Australia in 2022.

Smith noted the recurring dry heat over the years. "Every dry season, I wonder if it’s Gellibrand’s turn to burn," she said. Victorian officials are currently managing five major fires.

Steve McCullough, a local hotel manager in Hopetoun, stated that residents in the agricultural community of about 700 are accustomed to extreme heat. When temperatures surge, some workers finish their shifts by midday, and many businesses close early.

McCullough keeps his pub open all week as a refuge from the heat, especially for those concerned about soaring electricity bills from constant air conditioning use. "We open our doors and tell anyone feeling hot they can come in and sit, no purchase necessary," he said. "It’s incredibly hot. You have to adapt."

Spectators cool down with mist fans amidst the heat at the 2026 Australia Open in Melbourne, 27/1. *Reuters*

Australian health authorities advise residents to stay hydrated and regularly check on the elderly, children, and immunocompromised individuals. Victoria Emergency Services emphasized this is a "life-threatening emergency situation."

In Hopetoun, residents are checking on and assisting each other. "They knock on neighbors' doors to make sure everyone is okay," McCullough added.

Earlier this week, over 100,000 households lost power due to bushfire impact and grid overload from the heat, leaving many without air conditioning.

Kyla Beale, a Gellibrand resident, stated that the fire risk emerged about two weeks ago, following a heatwave in early January. Most of the town evacuated on 24/1.

She left with her 15-year-old son and family dog, while her husband remained to protect their home. "It was terrifying to leave and let my husband face the wind and fire," Beale expressed.

The town's safe drinking water supply has been depleted after fires breached containment lines, damaging the treatment plant that provides water to Gellibrand.

Smith reported that the koala her family found was examined, fed eucalyptus leaves, and released into an unburnt eucalyptus tree.

However, Smith estimated that about 90% of her 809-hectare farm has been incinerated, and she does not yet know the exact number of sheep and cattle lost to the fires.

"I think everyone is scared. It’s truly awful, but people are standing together, getting through it. This is Gellibrand; everyone wants to help each other," she concluded.