Australians have been told to prepare for the worst as "catastrophic" bushfires tear through Victoria, destroying homes and forcing thousands to flee in scenes that apocalyptic experts warn could become the new normal.

With temperatures hitting a searing 46.3°C in parts of the country, authorities have issued a stark "leave now" directive. For the Kenyan diaspora in Australia, particularly students in Melbourne and families in regional Victoria, the situation is precarious.

The Firestorm

Emergency management officials confirmed that the Longwood bushfire is out of control, having already razed at least 20 homes in the town of Ruffy. The speed of the blaze, driven by 87km/h winds, has overwhelmed containment lines.

• Catastrophic Ratings: A total fire ban is in force. The Country Fire Authority (CFA) has warned that "property loss or worse" is inevitable.
• Infrastructure Collapse: Over 35,000 residents are without power as the grid buckles under peak demand and fire damage.
• Climate Reality: The ferocity of these fires mirrors the extreme weather events becoming frequent in East Africa, serving as a global wake-up call on climate resilience.

A Weekend of Danger

Forecasts offer little respite, with a cool change only expected late in the weekend. Until then, communities remain on high alert. "The conditions were extreme yesterday. They’re catastrophic today," warned CFA Chief Jason Heffernan.