environment
‘It was calm … and then just hectic’: David Rigby couldn’t escape the Longwood bushfire so faced the inferno
Rigby saved his Yarck home but many were lost. Another resident says: ‘No one actually knows how bad it is. So many livestock are dead’
TL;DR
- Bushfires have caused widespread destruction in Victoria, with many homes and structures destroyed.
- Residents described harrowing experiences of being trapped by fires and witnessing the destruction of their properties and communities.
- An animal shelter run by Kathy Munslow was severely damaged, with many animals injured, hungry, or missing.
- The fires have resulted in significant livestock loss, with farmers desperately seeking feed for surviving animals.
- Authorities are working to control the fires, make roads safe, and facilitate the return of evacuated residents.
- Donations of ammunition and animal feed are being organized to support farmers dealing with the aftermath of the fires.
- The full extent of the damage, including the number of structures and homes destroyed, is still being assessed, with at least 300 structures and 80 homes lost.