One person dead as PM visits bushfire-ravaged towns with 300 structures destroyed and 350,000 hectares burned | Bushfires

Australian authorities are assessing the damage after one of the worst heatwaves in years sparked bushfires in the country’s southeast, leaving one person dead, hundreds of homes and structures lost, thousands of hectares burned and entire towns evacuated.

A state of disaster remained in place across much of Victoria on Sunday as thousands of firefighters and emergency services workers continued to battle blazes that were “expected to rage” for weeks.

Victoria Police said on Sunday human remains had been found in the Longwood bushfire area. The person, who has not yet been formally identified, was found about 100 meters from a vehicle near Yarck Road in Gobur.

More than 300 structures were destroyed and about 80 homes were destroyed, authorities said, as the fires burned 350,000 hectares of bushland.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Victorians: “We support you, not only through this crisis, but through the recovery. »

Albanese announced disaster recovery funding would be provided jointly with the State Government, which now stands at $19.5 million.

Eleven emergency alerts were in effect as of 3.30pm on Sunday, with residents urged to “leave immediately” or “take shelter now”, according to VicEmergency, as major bushfires in the Otways, Longwood in central Victoria and north-east of the NSW border remained out of control.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said the state was facing “another difficult day” with 32 active fires.

“We are far from being through the worst of the situation,” she said. “If emergency services tell you to leave, do so. Stay safe and support our firefighters.”

The State Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said it was disappointing to see spectators traveling to bushfire-affected areas.

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“Please do not enter these fire-affected areas. Stay away until it is safe,” he said. People have been warned that even after a fire has died down, falling tree branches could prove fatal.

Authorities were beginning to assess property losses, Wiebusch said. More than 47 homes and three businesses were lost in Ravenswood and Harcourt, fires in Natimuk destroyed 30 homes and 40 sheds and approximately 150 structures were lost in Longwood. A house and 12 sheds were destroyed at Mount Mercer.

Many areas are still too dangerous to carry out an assessment of losses and damage, the commissioner said.

Thirteen relief centers have been opened across the state, providing support to affected communities.

A statewide total fire ban remained in force, with a high fire risk persisting in the Mallee, Wimmera, northern, north central and northeast districts, due to dry and windy conditions.

Federal and state authorities were working to provide food and forage to surviving livestock, while active fires continued to restrict road access.

With smoke and ash from the fires likely to drift, air quality advisories have been issued across the state, encouraging people to stay indoors and limit any prolonged or strenuous physical activity.

“Your nose is a great smoke detector,” advised VicEmergency. “If you smell smoke, take the necessary precautions to protect your health.

“The people most sensitive to smoke are those who suffer from heart or lung problems, including asthma; people aged over 65; infants and children; as well as pregnant women. »

Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority is forecasting widespread “poor” air quality, with “very poor” quality observed on Sunday afternoon at monitoring sites in Wangaratta, Beechworth, Myrtleford and Rutherglen.

Residents of Harcourt, a town in the central highlands, have been asked not to drink tap water due to the risk of contamination. Water company Coliban Water was unable to access a burst main pipe due to the fires. The “don’t drink” advice included drinking alcohol, preparing food, making formula, brushing your teeth, or making ice.

Angus Hines, a senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, said after three days of “scorching temperatures” in Victoria, the heat had largely subsided, and many places were now experiencing cooler temperatures than average for January.

“It’s been a real turnaround,” he said Sunday.

Victoria can expect mild conditions over the next few days, he said, but no significant rain is expected until the end of the week.

“We could see wet weather move into parts of southern and eastern Victoria on Thursday or Friday. Current forecasts suggest that most of this rainfall will be concentrated on the southern side of the ranges and the Gippsland region.”

Meanwhile, in northern Australia, residents were “crushed” by heavy rain and strong winds after Tropical Cyclone Koji crossed the Queensland coast.

Australia experienced its fourth hottest year on record in 2025, with average temperatures rising 1.23°C nationally, according to the BoM. The climate crisis has increased the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, including heatwaves and bushfires.