the week, driven by large masses of hot, dry air over the continent’s southeast. The prolonged high temperatures have left many rural communities on alert as fire danger ratings climb to extreme levels. Authorities have reported multiple bushfires burning across Victoria, with strong winds forecast later in the day that could accelerate fire spread and complicate containment efforts. Emergency services have issued evacuation warnings for some rural towns and urged residents to prepare for worsening conditions. The combination of prolonged heat, low humidity and winds creates a very dangerous fire environment, said Victoria Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch. Fire crews remain on high alert as they work to protect communities and strategic infrastructure. The heatwave’s intensity has put additional strain on the region’s power grid, with outages reported in some areas as residents and businesses increase electricity use to combat the extreme temperatures. Climate experts have linked the severity of this event to broader trends in global warming, noting that higher baseline temperatures make extreme heat and associated fire risks more likely. Analysts say such heatwaves could become more frequent and intense unless greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced. Source : Reuters