Australian Sky Resembles Aboriginal Flag As Bushfires Create Red Hue

More than 20 people have been killed by bushfires that are ravaging Australia. Hundreds of thousands more have been evacuated from their homes and an estimated 480 million animals have been killed by the fires.

But often it is photographs, rather than statistics, that really bring home the reality of a situation.

Facebook/Rose Fletcher

One such picture was taken by Rose Fletcher as the sun rose on New Year's Day at Victor Harbour in South Australia.

The photograph shows the sky fading from red to black as the fires blaze below - and for a moment, it seemed as though the Aboriginal flag was flying high above the land.

Mrs Fletcher shared the picture on Facebook along with the caption: "The rising sun behind all that smoke seems to be recalling the era when this country was truly loved and respected."

The post has since been shared 11,000 times and Mrs Fletcher said she hoped 'a picture can be more effective in getting people to think than all the words that are said'.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, she said: "It was taken on New Year's Day, just after sunrise, when the fires were arguably at their worst, and hearts were heavy and people were frightened - me included.

"The rising sun was just a pale disc behind the layers of smoke over the Southern Ocean - and then, for just a few magic seconds, as it moved up through successively dense layers, it formed the Aboriginal flag.

"So I went home and put it up on Facebook, hoping that those moments would speak to other people as they spoke to me, and the rest is history.

"Thousands of people picked it up and ran with it."

PA

Commenting on the picture, one person said: "An amazing image to start the year. So beautiful and meaningful."

Another added: "Rose's photo is very relevant in this fire-ravaged nation. It should be seen by millions, including the climate denialists in industry and Canberra.

"May your magnificent image act as an agent of change. All the best to you and yours and this country, for the 2020s."

This photograph is just one of the many pictures coming out of Australia that has been shared across the world.

A picture of a badly burnt young kangaroo seeking help from a teenage boy in New South Wales serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the impact of the fires on wildlife, while a picture of a koala and a firefighter watching on as the forests around them burn perfectly encapsulates the helplessness felt by people and animals all over the country.

Topics: World News, Australia

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey