PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI: Australia is witnessing a wildfire crisis which has already caused catastrophic damages to the country.
As the fires continue to rage due to high winds and temperatures, 20 people perished, dozens are missing and ore than 1,400 homes destroyed. There is also a widely-reported estimate that almost half a billion have been killed in the firestorms, reported Sydney Morning Herald.
Celebrities have taken to social media to express their concern over the catastrophe. Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio, who is also an environmental activist, shared a long post on the fires and its link to climate change.
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"Australia is on fire. And the summer there has only just begun. 2019 was a year of record heat and record drought. Today the temperature outside Sydney was 48,9°C. 500 million (!!) animals are estimated dead because of the bushfires. Over 20 people have died and thousands of homes have burned to ground. The fires have spewed 2/3 of the nations national annual CO2 emissions, according to the The smoke has covered glaciers in distant New Zealand (!) making them warm and melt faster because of the albedo effect," DiCaprio wrote.
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The Once Upon A Time in Hollywood star continued to note the devastating effects of climate change. "And yet. All of this still has not resulted in any political action. Because we still fail to make the connection between the climate crisis and increased extreme weather events and nature disasters like the Australia Fires. That has to change. And it has to change now."
I get nauseated when actors complain about their jobs: Leonardo DiCaprio
While fire is a natural part of Australian forests, scientists are concerned the prolonged drought has caused unprecedented ferocity in these fires and this could have unforeseen consequences on the flora regrowth and the animals that live there.
Kim Kardashian took to Twitter to share her climate change concerns. "Climate change is real," she shared with an Australian globe emoji. Although, the reality star sparked debate after posting a tweet in November, teasing that "something very special" was on its way to her Aussie fans. "Water or firefighters? We need that right now. Or money? Farmers and people who lost homes & loved ones need money too," one Twitter user responded.
Climate change is real 💔🌎
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) January 3, 2020
Is it water or fire fighters? We need that right now. Or money? Farmers and people who lost homes & loved ones need money too.
— jackie (@JackieWarner13) November 12, 2019
The Greatest Showman star Hugh Jackman also expressed his deep sadness of the fires devastating effects. "We want to express our deep gratitude to the people in Australia who are fighting these devastating bushfires Our hearts are with everyone impacted especially those who have lost homes businesses and loved ones. This is an immense tragedy for our home country."
We want to express our deep gratitude to the people in Australia who are fighting these devastating bushfires Our hearts are with everyone impacted especially those who have lost homes businesses and loved ones This is an immense tragedy for our home country #AustraliaBushfires pic.twitter.com/xcsPWSpDeS
— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) January 3, 2020
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