The United States hasissued a travel warningfor those heading to Australia amid the bushfire crisis.
The travel advisory warning was increased from Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, to Level 2: Exercise increased caution. There are four levels, with Level 4: Do not travel, being the most severe.
“Exercise increased caution in Australia due to natural disaster/bushfires. Some areas have increased risk,” the State Department said, pointing out that the current fire season in the country “is one of the worst” in recorded history, and is expected to continue through March or April.
So far, 27 people have died during the crisis, CNNreportedThursday, and thousands of people andwildlifehave been displaced across the country since the fires started burning in September.
Tomerong, Australia on Jan. 8.
Barack Obamaweighed in on the crisisThursday, urging people to do what they can to help and urging leaders to seriously address climate change.
“The catastrophic fires in Australia are the latest example of the very real and very urgent consequences of climate change,” Obama, 58,wrote on Twitteron Thursday, sharing aNew Yorkmagazinearticlethat criticized the “global apathy” toward the ongoing crisis.
“It’s on us to stay focused and protect the one planet we’ve got for the next generation,” Obama added, saying that “even with problems of this magnitude, each of us can still find a way to make change.”
Rick Rycroft/AP/Shutterstock
Australia fires.SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images
Bob Deans of the Natural Resources Defense Counciltold PEOPLEWednesday that climate change “sets the stage for making [the fires] more devastating.”
“Because of hotter, drier weather,” Deans said, “we are seeing the fire season starting sooner, lasting longer and becoming more devastating.”
“Much of Australia has experienced record heat,” he said. “December 17 was the hottest day on record nationally in Australia.”
Deans called the fires “a widening crisis,” calling it a “dire” situation that “points to the global crisis we’re facing.”
source: people.com
