Australia declares state of emergency due to bushfires in the capital

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) declared a state of emergency as bushfires move rapidly around the capital.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced the state of the emergency on Friday.

Barr said it marks the first time since the 2003 bushfire crisis that a state of emergency has been issued.

The 2003 bushfire killed four people and destroyed nearly 500 buildings in one day.

"The combination of extreme heat, wind, and a dry landscape will place suburbs in Canberra's south at risk in the coming days, " Barr said in a statement. "The Orroral fire has now grown to 18,500 hectares, that's 185 square kilometers or nearly 8% of the total landmass of the Australian Capital Territory."

Australia has been dealing with bushfires since September.

The bushfires have killed at least 33 people, an estimated one billion native animals, and 2,500 homes have been destroyed.

(CGTN)