Wildfires in Australia

A huge natural disaster has struck Australia.

A large number of bushfires began to spread across the country in October 2019.

Even now, after many months, the fires are still burning in some areas.

Bushfires are common in Australia in the summer, when it is hot and dry.

They get started naturally, and firefighters put them out quickly.

In 2019, however, the country experienced extremely hot and dry weather.

The country even suffered its worst drought ever in the spring.

This led to many wildfires occurring throughout Australia.

These fires affected the countryside, and some small towns were destroyed.

Thick smoke covered major cities like Melbourne and Sydney.

Meanwhile, strong winds have fanned the flames.

This has made it difficult for firefighters to put out the larger blazes.

Sadly, the fires greatly damaged Australian wildlife, as well.

Millions of birds, reptiles, and mammals have lost their homes and even their lives.

Some firefighters and ordinary citizens did their best to save the suffering amimals.

Environmentalists blamed climate change for this situation.

They said it had caused the extreme weather conditions that led to the wildfires.

"More must be done to fight global warming and save Australia," one environmentalist said.

 

• Wildfire 산불,도깨비불, 들불   strike straɪk - struck strʌ́k  (세게) 치다, 부딪치다 (손이나 무기로) 때리다[치다] /  파업 (→general strike, hunger strike)

• bushfire  잡목림 지대의 산불, 들불, (야산에 난) 산불   experience ɪk|spɪriəns 겪다, 경험하다 / 경험[경력]  fan fǽn 부채질을 하다 / 선풍기, 환풍기, 팬 

• put something out  (쓰레기 등을 집 밖으로) 내다 놓다 , 내놓다 ,  (불·전깃불 등을) 끄다  drought draʊt 가뭄  blaze bleɪz 활활 타다 / (대형) 화재

• wildlife ˈwaɪldlaɪf 야생 동물