Australia Battles New Wildfire Threat as Smoke Cloaks Capital

A truck drives past charred trees burnt during the recent wildfires near Batemans Bay, New South Wales, Australia, on Jan. 22, 2020. Loren Elliott/Reuters

Australian officials warned communities in wildfire-ravaged eastern states to strengthen fire defense on Jan. 28 amid forecasts of soaring temperatures and strong winds, as one approaching blaze cloaked the capital in thick smoke.

Wildfires have killed 33 people and about 1 billion animals since September, while 2,500 homes and an area the size of Greece have been destroyed.