What you need to know about the Australia bushfires

After an already devastating start to its fire season, Australia is bracing for things to get worse. The Verge will update this page with news and analyses as the fires rage.

What’s happening?

Dozens of fires erupted in New South Wales, Australia, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency in November. Fires rapidly spread across all states to become some of the most devastating on record. An area about the size of South Korea, roughly 25.5 million acres, has burned. At least 27 people are dead, including at least three volunteer firefighters, and more are missing. Around 2,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged. As blazes intensified in the days leading up to New Year’s Eve,...

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