Victoria heat record under threat as temperatures pass 48C in Ouyen
Ouyen, Victoria, is closing in on the state’s previous temperature record, 48.8C, which was set in Hopetoun on Black Saturday, 7 February 2009. The mercury is reading 48C at the moment.
The Bureau of Meteorology is still forecasting the town could hit 49C by 4pm, before a rapid cool change beginning later tonight.
Key events
Stephanie Convery
What does 48C actually feel like?
I am a Melbourne resident, usually, which you ought to keep in mind as there is a lot to be said for being acclimatised to the heat, and physical experiences are always a bit subjective.
At the same time, it is immediately obvious when you walk outside here in Ouyen why health authorities warn about the health dangers of extreme temperatures like this, even for healthy, able-bodied people.
Heat like this feels like being smothered. Even in the shade, it pushes insistently on to you – on your chest, through your clothes, down your throat.
You can feel your body slowing everything down to cope. A few seconds in the sun is enough to break a sweat. Everything feels like it’s swelling. And it’s nauseating – even more so if you haven’t slept well.
Three homes believed to have been destroyed by fire in Otways, says chief fire officer
Returning to Victoria’s heatwave, Chris Hardman, the chief fire officer at Forest Fire Management Victoria, says three homes are believed to have been destroyed by Carlisle River fire in the Otways.
Emergency authorities have warned that a wind change within the hour is expected to exacerbate the fire.
Speaking to reporters a little earlier, Hardman said it was not clear whether the structures were primary homes.
He says this is based on preliminary information and impact assessments will be conducted when it is safe to do so.
Amanda Meade
‘Compromised staff account’ resulted in photos of adult performers being posted on ABC News Facebook, broadcaster says
Turning away from weather updates for a moment, the cover image for ABC News’ Facebook page for a brief period on Tuesday was a photograph of British porn star Bonnie Blue in a pink bikini.
Other random photographs including one of OnlyFans adult performer Lily Phillips and a shot of prime minister Anthony Albanese eating a hotdog were also posted.
The culprit appears to be a hacker who got hold of a staffer’s ABC Facebook account, and the images were quickly deleted.
An ABC News spokesperson told Guardian Australia:
Earlier today, a compromised staff account resulted in unauthorised access to the ABC News Facebook page, where several images were briefly posted.
Access was quickly secured, the content removed, and an investigation is underway to review and strengthen our security controls.
Victoria’s emergency services minister, Vicki Ward, has thanked locals who have followed emergency warnings and left early.
Confronting a fire behind your house, in front of your house, down the road, is one of the most terrifying experiences you will endure, and it will leave you with lasting trauma.
Hardman warns that between 4 and 5pm today a strong south-westerly wind change is expected to exacerbate the Carlisle River fire:
We will see erratic and extreme fire behaviour.
The key message for these fires is always follow the warning of emergency services.
Hardman says the Carlisle River fire in the Otways has challenged firefighters since it breached containment lines on Saturday. It has more than doubled in size and is now larger than 10,000 hectares in size.
He says the fire has spotted outside its original containment lines today.
Chris Hardman, the chief fire officer at Forest Fire Management Victoria, says the state’s heat conditions are making conditions “incredibly difficult” for firefighters.
At the Walwa-Mt Lawson fire, in the state’s north-east, winds are “not significant” but fire activity has increased.
Locals in Dargo, where the Dargo/Wonnangatta fire is burning, will see increased smoke. But Hardman says there is no immediate risk of threat to communities in this area.
Hardman stresses conditions can change and urges locals to stay across VicEmergency warnings.
Victoria’s chief health officer, Dr Caroline McElnay, has urged people to be aware of the early signs of heat-related illness and “take action if you see those”.
She says some of the signs include dry mouth, dehydration and an altered mental state. People experiencing these symptoms should move to a cool area and take fluids.
McElnay says the next stage can include muscle cramps and dizziness. She says at this point a person may want to seek medical advice and dial Nurse-on-Call.
She says those most at risk of from prolonged heat exposure are people aged 65 and over, those with underlying health conditions, pregnant women, babies and children.
Wiebusch says authorities have reported spotting from the Carlisle River fire, which broke containment lines over the weekend.
He says that overnight more than 120 people have taken refuge in emergency relief centres in Colac.
Three centres remain active today at the Colac Showgrounds, the Bluewater Leisure Centre in Colac and the Grovedale Community Hub.
Victorian authorities declare total fire ban in Wimmera and north-east
Victoria’s emergency management commissioner, Tim Wiebusch, says a total fire ban has been declared in the Wimmera and north-east fire districts for Wednesday.
He says there are six major fires in the state, with three burning out of control.
Two emergency warnings and 13 watch and act warnings are in place.
Petra Stock
Vets and volunteers deployed to flying fox colonies in Victoria amid heatwave
Wildlife Victoria has deployed volunteers, veterinarians and support staff to grey-headed flying fox camps in central Victoria amid the extreme heat.
The teams arrived at two nationally significant flying fox camps in Tatura and Numurkah on Saturday for a seven-day deployment. Both colonies are estimated to be home to approximately 10,000 grey-headed flying foxes.
Temperatures above 42C are deadly for flying foxes. Wildlife support crews will monitor the health of the colonies and provide assistance when needed.
Thousands of flying foxes perished in the heatwave earlier in January, the largest mass mortality event for the species since black summer.
Members of the public were advised never to try to rescue any sick, injured or orphaned bats themselves, and instead to contact their nearest wildlife organisation.
Lisa Palma, Wildlife Victoria CEO, said:
We’re pleased to report that both colonies have coped well so far, but we expect today to be the most challenging, with temperatures in Tatura and Numurkah forecast to reach 42 and 43 degrees respectively. Conditions are also expected to worsen later in the week as animals experience the cumulative impacts of consecutive days of extreme heat.
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Victoria heat record under threat as temperatures pass 48C in Ouyen
Ouyen, Victoria, is closing in on the state’s previous temperature record, 48.8C, which was set in Hopetoun on Black Saturday, 7 February 2009. The mercury is reading 48C at the moment.
The Bureau of Meteorology is still forecasting the town could hit 49C by 4pm, before a rapid cool change beginning later tonight.
Tom McIlroy
MP Monique Ryan calls for heatwaves to be named after fossil fuel companies
Independent MP Monique Ryan says heatwaves putting Australian lives at risk should be named after fossil fuel companies contributing to climate change.
“Extreme weather events like Black Summer, Cyclone Yasi and the Lismore floods are seared into our memories,” the Kooyong MP said.
But heatwaves, the climate hazard responsible for more Australian deaths than floods, storms and bushfires combined, remain a silent killer.
Extreme heat strains every system in the body. It stresses the heart, destabilises diabetes, worsens respiratory conditions, and intensifies mental health crises. When temperatures rise, so do emergency department presentations.
Launched as Melbourne inches towards a top of 44C on Tuesday, Ryan has called her new campaign “Name Heatwaves. Save Lives”.
Cyclones have been given names in Australia since the 1960s, part of efforts to improve awareness and emergency communications. Ryan said:
Fossil fuels are the leading cause of climate change. They contribute to longer, hotter, and more frequent heatwaves.
To tackle our most deadly climate hazard – heat – we should start by calling it what it is, and by asking those who profit from it to own their share of that harm.
Man charged after alleged improvised explosive device thrown into Invasion Day crowd in Perth
Western Australia police have charged a man, 31, after an alleged homemade improvised explosive device was thrown into a crowd gathered for Perth’s Invasion Day rally yesterday.
Officials said the device, which contained a mixture of volatile and potentially explosive chemicals, also had nails and metal ball bearings affixed to the exterior. The object was thrown into the crowd of about 2,500 people just after 12pm on Monday.
Police will alleged the man removed the improvised explosive from his bag, threw it into the group and then fled the scene. He was arrested shortly afterwards by police.
Officials later searched his home, where they allegedly found a combination of chemicals and materials “consistent with the manufacture of homemade explosives”.
He has since been charged with one count of an unlawful act or omission with intent to harm and one count of possession of explosives under suspicious circumstances. His bail was refused and he will appear before court today.
Andrew Messenger
Qld says refusal to participate in gun buybacks ‘not about the money’
Queensland’s police minister, Dan Purdie, has told media the government’s decision not to participate in the federal gun buyback scheme is “not about the money”.
“It’s not about the money. It’s about asking those questions and doing what’s right for Queensland, and making sure that the police have got all the laws and resources they need to do that, that’s what I’m focused on,” he said.
Purdie refused to elaborate on the reason they wouldn’t participate, but the premier, David Crisafulli, last week said that a buyback scheme “doesn’t focus on keeping guns out of the hands of terrorists and criminals”.
Crisafulli was asked earlier today if a cap on gun ownership – akin to the legislation passed in NSW last year – would keep firearms out of the wrong hands.
I’ve got a cap. My cap is zero. If you’re a terrorist or a crook, zero. Not one, two or three – zero. And if we focus on that, you are going to have a much safer state.
Purdie also hinted that the government would respond to recommendations of a coronial inquest last year into the Wieambilla killings, which recommended mental health checks for gun licence holders.
“We’re working through that at the moment [in cabinet],” he said.
Extreme heat protocol enacted at the Australian Open
Jo Khan
Australian Open officials have enacted their extreme heat protocols after the heat stress scale at Melbourne Park moved above 5.0.
This means all tennis on outside courts has been suspended, and the roofs on Rod Laver and Margaret Court Arenas have been closed.
Women’s singles world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka has just defeated Iva Jovic to secure her spot in the semi-finals, with the RLA roof closing above her during the post-match press conference.
Officials are advising fans to seek shade and drink water, with MCA – and its air-conditioning – accessible for all ground-pass holders.
Alexander Zverev (3) and Learner Tien (25) have just taken to RLA for their men’s quarter-final. Follow our blog for live updates:
Andrew Messenger
Queensland Labor backs decision to kill K’gari dingos
Queensland Labor leader, Steven Miles, has thrown his support behind a decision to kill 10 protected dingos on K’gari island.
The state government announced the decision on Sunday after the death of Canadian tourist Piper James last week.
“I know, as a former environment minister myself, that there are times when our park rangers identify that animals need to be removed to keep those parks safe, and I’ve always taken the view that our park rangers, the experts in the field, are best placed to make those decisions,” Miles said.
I supported them in making those decisions when it came to crocodiles and kangaroos and all sorts of all sorts of species, brumbies as well.
Miles criticise the government for not consulting with the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation, the traditional owners group which holds native title over and co-manages the world heritage listed island.
They failed to take that important step. But if the rangers believed it was necessary to remove those animals to keep the park safe, then I support them.
Stephanie Convery
Update from Ouyen: it’s hot
It’s just hit 46C in Ouyen and the heat is radiant and nauseating. The streets are almost empty of people, but that doesn’t mean they’re not here: almost every shaded car space in the town centre is occupied.
Serious heat is usual for the Mallee and Ouyen residents are accustomed to it – though they do acknowledge that it’s extra hot today. A carload of kids were dipping their toes into the Ouyen Lake this morning at about 11am, but they were the exception rather than the rule. The only way to escape this heat is to be inside an air-conditioned building.
That’s what most locals do. Deane Munro, a fourth-generation family farmer and Ouyen local, says most people try to get a bit of work done early in the morning and then head inside:
Not many people are out working unless you have to be … Most places just bunker down – do a bit in the mornings and bunker down in the afternoons.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the heat is expected to peak here around 4pm-5pm.
