The bushfires raging across Australia have affected around 300 Filipino migrants there and prompted some celebrities to appeal for help and prayers for the victims of the ongoing crisis.
According to Time magazine, the fires have burned more than 12 million acres or over 4 million hectares of land.
A BBC report, meanwhile, stated that half a billion animals have already been killed by the fires.
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, a Filipino-Australian model and singer before becoming Miss Universe Philippines, wrote a prayer for the people and animals affected by the files on Instagram.
“Australia is in a state of emergency! For two months, we have seen unprecedented heat and catastrophic bushfires sweep across the nation, with today’s forecast to be the worst so far, and the fire season is only just beginning,” Gray said on January 4.
She also shared details of the current extent of the damage as she asked for help from the public to volunteer and donate.
“Right now we need a miracle to stop these fires. Our firefighters are volunteers, taking time off from their paying jobs to put their lives on the line for us. Please help and donate to these charities,” she said and attached a link of the charities people could donate to.
Meanwhile, TV personality Anne Curtis, who was born in Australia, also expressed her hopes for more rain to help fight off the flames.
“Thankful for the rain in Melbourne but praying for more rain all across Australia to help with the uncontrollable bushfires to help ease the work of the tired firemen,” she said.
She also retweeted a report from a Melbourne-based agency telling how the the rains and the cool weather help firefighters control the fires.
Curtis lived in Australia until she was scouted by talent agencies to enter the entertainment industry. She later decided to stay permanently in the Philippines. Years later, she and long-time boyfriend Erwan Heussaff also held their wedding in New Zealand.
Situation of Filipino workers
So far, only 300 Filipinos from East Gippslad Shire have been evacuated to the city of Bairnsdale in Victoria, Australia, an official from the Philippine Embassy in Canberra.
“Just two to three days ago, we received reports from our Melbourne landing team… and we have an honorary consul in Melbourne. They both recently reported cases of Filipinos who have been affected by the bushfires. There were 300 Filipino residents of Easy Gippsland in Victoria who have been evacuated to the city of Bairnsdale,” Consul General Aian Caringal said in an interview.
No Filipino was among the 24 people who have died. Two Filipino-owned homes, however, were destroyed by the fires.
The embassy has yet to receive orders to repatriate affected Filipinos.
Caringal advised Filipino migrants to monitor the situation and keep in contact with the authorities, particularly of Philippine embassies and consulates.
As of publication, international reports have cited the months of severe drought as the main cause for the bushfires.
To illustrate the severity, one Reddit user compared the amount of damage in Australia to the area in the Philippines based on available data online.
Australian wildfire compared to the Philippines from Philippines