Climate-2026

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The bushfires ignited as an intense heat wave swept southern Australia, creating the most dangerous conditions since the "Black Summer" blazes from late 2019 to early 2020.

Bushfires across the Australian state of Victoria were destroying homes, forcing evacuations, and burning through vast swathes of bushland, authorities said on Friday. Victoria's Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said firefighters were battling around 30 active blazes as the state's fire danger rating hit the highest "catastrophic" level.

Temperatures were forecast to reach 46 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit), with damaging winds expected to make conditions "undefendable" in some areas, authorities said. Dozens of communities have been evacuated and many parks and campgrounds closed as the fires continue to spread. "If you don't leave now, it could result in your life being lost," Wiebusch said.

'Some people have lost everything'

A major fire near the town of Longwood has burned more than 35,000 hectares (86,486 acres), destroying multiple homes and community buildings, while another blaze near Walwa has spread across about 20,000 hectares of bushland. Victoria Police said two adults and a child were also missing in the Longwood area after their home was destroyed by fire.

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"Some properties have lost everything," Longwood fire captain George Noye said. "They've lost their livelihoods, they've lost their shearing sheds, livestock, just absolutely devastating." Victoria's state Premier Jacinta Allan called the blaze "one of the most dangerous fire days that this state has experienced in years."

Intense heat wave across southern Australia

The bushfires ignited on Wednesday as an intense heat wave swept southern Australia, creating the most dangerous bushfire conditions since the "Black Summer" blazes from late 2019 to early 2020 that killed 33 people and devastated vast areas of the southeast. Australia remains one of the world's largest producers and exporters of gas and coal, key fossil fuels that act as major contributors to global warming. The country's climate has warmed by an average of 1.51°C since 1910, scientists say, fueling increasingly frequent extreme weather.

Author: Shakeel Sobhan with AFP, Reuters

Edited by: Zac Crellin

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Snow, ice disrupt travel across western Europe

A cold snap has grounded hundreds of flights in Amsterdam and Paris. Bus services were also suspended in the French capital, where locals grabbed skis and sledges to enjoy the rare heavy snow.

A winter storm affecting large parts of western Europe was causing widespread travel chaos for a third day on Wednesday. At least six people have died in weather-related incidents this week. Five of those deaths were in France, with the sixth coming in Bosnia, where snow and rain have triggered floods and power outages.

How is the storm affecting air travel in northwestern Europe?

At least 700 flights at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport were canceled on Wednesday because of the snow and wind, after days of travel disruptions due to the winter storm. Over 1,000 passengers were stranded at Schiphol overnight. Airport authorities said they had set up camp beds for travelers who were forced to sleep at the airport, which is one of the busiest in Europe. In Paris, heavy snowfall forced around 140 flights to be canceled at Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports in the French capital. Around 40 flights were also canceled in the Belgian capital.

Bus, rail, school services frozen

Public buses were also suspended in Paris, as shops began the first day of New Year's sales. School buses and trucks have also been banned from roads across northern and western France, amid forecasts of significant snowfall and black ice. Rail services were facing delays and disruptions, the country's rail operator said.  "Snow on the tracks is forcing us to limit train speed and cancel trains or adjust traffic," SNCF said. Eurostar trains between Paris, London and Brussels were also delayed. In Scotland, hundreds of schools were closed for a third day amid freezing temperatures and snow. Authorities in England, meanwhile, were bracing for a snowstorm later this week.

Parisians take advantage of snow day

While the weather was severely disrupting travel in Paris, tourists and locals took the opportunity to enjoy the snow. People were seen skiing or sledding down Montmartre's steep hills, along the Champs de Mars underneath the Eiffel Tower, near the Louvre museum and along the banks of the River Seine. Teona, a tourist from the United Kingdom visiting Paris told DW: "I think it's really fun visiting here when it's snowy. I did have my cautions about it but I think I prefer it with the snow."

Richard, a Paris resident whom we met walking his dog, said: "I woke up this morning, everything was white. I was looking out the window  — it was so magical and I took the occasion to go out with my dog to play a bit in the snow. It's the second time he sees the snow. It's wonderful!" Not everyone was as pleased with the blanket of snow covering the capital, however. Michael, a local resident, said: "I'm annoyed! Because it's slippery, because you have to watch your step, because it ruins your shoes! It's no good at all!"

Author: Karl Sexton with AFP, Reuters, AP, dpa

DW's Rosie Birchard contributed to this report

Edited by: Wesley Dockery

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