• Victorian bushfires have destroyed over 130 structures and left tens of thousands without power.
• Authorities declared a state of disaster as extreme heat exacerbates fire conditions.
• One major fire near Longwood has burned nearly 150,000 hectares of bushland.
• Firefighters are working tirelessly as 10 major blazes continue to burn across the state.
• The current fires are the worst since the infamous Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020.

Thousands of firefighters are currently battling bushfires in Victoria, Australia, which have devastated homes, cut power to tens of thousands, and consumed over 300,000 hectares of bushland amidst an intense heatwave. The fires have razed more than 130 structures, and around 38,000 homes and businesses were left without electricity, marking the worst wildfire season since the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020, which taken an area equivalent to the size of Turkey and resulted in 33 fatalities, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

The extreme weather conditions have prompted Victoria's Premier, Jacinta Allan, to declare a state of disaster. This declaration empowers emergency services with enhanced powers to enforce evacuations, aiming to safeguard lives. "It’s all about one thing: protecting Victorian lives," said Allan in a media conference, reinforcing the urgency of following evacuation orders, according to South China Morning Post and Channel News Asia.

Notably, one of the largest fires is raging near Longwood, consuming approximately 150,000 hectares, destroying numerous structures, agricultural lands, and vineyards. This fire is notable for the intense heat conditions, with temperatures soaring past 40 degrees Celsius, leading to warnings of increased fire risk across various regions, as reported by Reuters and South China Morning Post.

The Rural Fire Service has highlighted that fire weather warnings remain active across large areas, including neighboring New South Wales, where several fires are also at emergency levels. Authorities state that relief is on the horizon with forecasts predicting milder temperatures over the weekend, however, many fires are expected to continue burning for many days, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.