Three people, including a child, are missing and feared dead after devastating bushfires tore through the Australian state of Victoria, destroying multiple homes and forcing widespread evacuations.
Firefighters' Frantic Encounter Before Destruction
The missing individuals – a man, woman, and child – were last seen in the town of Longwood, in Victoria's north, on Thursday 8th January 2026. Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Robert Hill revealed that firefighters had encountered the trio earlier that day, alerting them to the imminent danger. Officials told them it was tragically too late to safely evacuate the area.
Commissioner Hill stated that when emergency crews returned to the location later, the house the people had been standing in front of was found "completely destroyed". The three individuals were nowhere to be found and remain unaccounted for.
State of Emergency as Fires Rage
The fires erupted amid an intense summer heatwave sweeping southern Australia. Victoria's Emergency Management Commissioner, Tim Wiebusch, reported that by Friday morning, 40 fires had ignited, with 30 still active. He confirmed property losses in the Longwood area and said "multiple" properties, including homes, a community centre, and a telephone exchange, were damaged or lost in the town of Ruffy, approximately 109 miles north of Melbourne.
Wiebusch issued a stark, urgent warning to residents in bushland areas: "Leave now if you haven't left already. If you don't leave now, it could result in your life being lost." Hundreds of schools were closed as firefighters battled the blazes in "challenging and difficult conditions" overnight.
Echoes of 'Black Summer'
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, visiting the National Emergency Management Agency in Canberra, said the nation was hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. He urged all citizens to heed official evacuation advice.
Meteorologists have drawn alarming parallels between the current conditions and those of 2019, which led to the catastrophic "Black Summer" bushfires. That disaster destroyed vast swathes of southeastern Australia and directly caused 33 deaths.
The situation remains dynamic, with officials fearing the number of casualties and property losses could rise as assessments continue in the fire-ravaged regions.
