Thousands of troops being called to help as bushfires rage across Australia. Here's what you need to know.

• The bushfires in southeastern Australia are raging on with no sign of stopping.
• Officials were bracing for unfavorable conditions, and temperatures hit a record high in Canberra.
• Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Saturday that 3,000 Australian Defence Force reservists would help with bushfire recovery. He also announced nearly $13.9 million (AUS $20 million) to lease water bomber planes.
• The first of those evacuated from the holiday beach town, Mallacoota, where thousands were trapped on New Years Eve, reached an area southeast of Melbourne. The city of Melbourne said on Saturday that a relief center would be opening at the convention center for those who had to evacuate.
• Two people were confirmed by authorities to have died in fires on Kangaroo Island.
• At least 23 people have died this summer, Morrison said on Saturday, with seven killed during a 24-hour period over the New Year.
• Large parts of the region have been blanketed with thick smog and blood-red skies. On Thursday, the capital of Canberra recorded the worst air-quality index of all the world's major cities.
• Food and fuel are running low in remote regions, and power and communications are being cut out in some places.
• Numerous outlets have described the fires as pushing the country to the brink of a humanitarian crisis.
• Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been sharply criticized for the disaster, with critics citing his insufficient climate policies and refusal to curtail the coal industry.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Bushfires are continuing to rage across southeastern Australia with no end in sight. At least 18 people have died, hundreds of homes have been destroyed, and the country teeters on the brink of a humanitarian crisis as food and fuel runs out in some areas.

The current bushfire season in southeastern Australia, which began in October 2019, is the worst in recorded Australian history.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: How Jay-Z and Diddy used their fame to make millions off of 'cheap grapes'

See Also:

• Eerie photos capture blood-red skies as bushfires rage across Australia and trap thousands
• Australia's bushfires are so bad authorities have to abandon large areas, warning thousands that they could be trapped in the blaze's path
• Photos of a koala hospital in Australia show just how devastating recent bushfires have been for the iconic marsupial

from Business Insider https://ift.tt/2QinSAv