Australia is in the midst of one of the worst bushfire crises the world has seen. Since September, entire communities have been engulfed by relentless heat and fires. The flames are showing no signs of slowing down - which means only one thing... death tolls are rising.
The internet has shared some of the most devastating images of what's going on - and it makes for absolutely heartbreaking viewing.
48. Koala cuddles
via: Imgur
"Since the fire has passed through Mallacoota this amazing, selfless young guy has been out searching for injured wildlife. This is one of 7 koalas he's saved so far."47. Innovation
via: Reddit
"I'm so proud of my country, our volunteer firefighters are legends in their own category."46. Exhaustion
via: Facebook
"This is a picture of my Dad getting 5 mins sleep on our front lawn, while my brother keeps watch over the fire burning at the top of our farm after he finished his 10th 12 hr+ day in a row fighting voluntarily in the community with the RFS NSW."
32. So tired
via: Imgur
"After logging 776 hours of firefighting in the last ten weeks. No end in sight. New fires keep starting. Another four months of the fire season. Trucks literally being worked to death 24/7. Equipment breakages. Crew injuries. Fresh untrained crew needing guidance. Logistic nightmares. Missed meals. Etc. I finally have 48 hours where I'm not permitted on a fireground. It's bliss. My body isn't coping with the comedown though. Headache, nausea, shakes."31. Perspective
via: Reddit
"I’m in Melbourne, which is hundreds of km’s away from the fire zone. But there is a fine ash covering everything, my car is filthy and it’s pointless to clean it as it will just get covered immediately. The sky is permanently full of smoke, but it’s high up where I am so you can’t smell it much, but it blocks off most of the blue light so everything has a reddish tinge to it."
28. A fierce blaze
via: Reddit
"Hell opens up in Australia. Thoughts go out to our brave firefighters."
26. A moment of happiness
from aww
22. Red everywhere
via: Reddit
"Do you see this? This is our world. 4000 people are currently sheltering from the devastating fires in Australia on a beach."
18. A lack of relief
via: Reddit
"My son is 1 month old, he's never breathed fresh air in his life."17. Fighting until the end
via: Twitter
This picture really depicts how exhausting the firefighting is.16. Internal fires
via: Reddit
There's something about a fire inside a window that's even more horrifying.
12. No filter
via: Reddit
The amount of pollution in the air is totally blocking out any blue light, giving this scary effect.11. Losing everything
via: Reddit
"Over 1000 people forced onto a beach by out of control fires. They are surrounded with no escape except to swim."10. Firetruck
via: Reddit
It's incredible that people continue to fight in the face of seemingly impossible odds.9. New Zealand
via: Reddit
"The fires from Australia are so massive that our skies in New Zealand have turned yellow (1,600 miles away)."8. Crazy clouds
via: Reddit
"This is a pyrocumulus cloud produced by smoke from the Australian bushfires. It’s 12km high. It produces its own thunderstorms, fire tornadoes and 100km/h winds."7. The consequences
via: Twitter
"Paracombe 34, Langley Rd Gumeracha, Cudlee Creek bushfire, South Australia."
5. Happy New Year
via: Imgur
"Australia is one of the first countries to ring in 2020, here is what we are waking up to on the last day of this decade. Happy New Year."
2. Fighting on
via: Facebook
"Yesterday was one crazy day. I helped defend friends' property from the fire at Nth Durras."1. Nowhere to go
via: Twitter
The beach remains the last place to go for some. Want to learn more about these bushfires? Scroll on for the story of one hero amidst the tragedy.