Death toll from wildfires stands at 12 in Australia

"Federal Government, especially our Defense Forces, are working together with the Victorian Government to respond to Victorian bushfires. VIC CFA are leading the response. Premier Daniel Andrews & I are in regular contact. Reports of persons unaccounted for are very distressing," the country's Prime Ministry Scott Morrison tweeted on Tuesday.

According to the reports, the wildfires in Australia are devastation to the environment and people of the continent. It will also have large ramifications for the rest of the world since all the ash will change climate patterns.

While the wildfire danger increased in the country's east as temperatures soared, it is feared that the thousands of koalas have died in the country.

In this year, wildfires in Australia heavily impacted various regions of New South Wales: namely the North Coast, Mid North Coast, Cessnock, the Hunter Region, the Hawkesbury north west of Sydney, the Wollondily south west of Sydney, the Blue mountains and the South Coast. Central Queensland and South Eastern Queensland were moderately affected in November. On 20 December, serious fires took hold in South Australia, especially in the Cuddle Creek area of the Adelaide hills. By 21 December 2019, the fires had burnt over 3,000,000 hectares, destroyed over 700 houses and killed at least 9 people with at least one unaccounted for.

In December 2019, the state government declared a state of emergency in New South Wales after record-breaking temperatures exacerbated the bushfires. The political ramifications of the fire season have been significant. A decision by the New South Wales Government to cut funding to fire services, as well as a holiday taken by Prime Minister Scott Morrison during which two volunteer firefighters died and his perceived general apathy towards the situation, resulted in controversy..

Reinforcements from all over Australia were called in to assist fighting the fires and relieve exhausted local crews in New South Wales. On 11 November, it was reported that the CFA ("Country Fire Authority") was sending in a large contingent of up to 300 firefighters and support staff from Victoria. More than 100 firefighters had been sent from Western Australia as of 14 November. Contingents were also sent from South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. On 12 November, the Federal government announced that the Avustralian Defense Force was providing air support to the firefighting effort, as well as preparing to provide manpower and logistical support.

On 12 November, catastrophic fire danger was declared in the Greater Sydney region for the first time since the introduction of this level in 2009. The Illawarra and Greater Hunter areas also experienced catastrophic fire dangers and other parts of the state, including the already fire ravaged parts of northern NSW, experienced extreme fire dangers. As of 7 December, 2,000,000 ha (4,900,000 acres) has been burnt or is burning in New South Wales, and a total fire ban was in place for seven regions, including Greater Sydney.Since the start of the season, the ongoing bushfires have destroyed 684 homes as well as 48 facilities and more than 2000 outbuildings in New South Wales. Almost 250 homes have been damaged. (ILKHA)