21 photos showing the aftermath of horrific bushfires in Australia

In a few months, wildfires in Australia have destroyed 10 million hectares of land. In the state of New South Wales alone, about half a billion animals became victims of the disaster, millions of them died. Human settlements have been wiped off the face of the earth. Here are the consequences of a fiery hell in photos.

Kangaroo Island

The threat looms over the unique flora and fauna of Kangaroo Island. The fire destroyed 155,000 hectares of land, which is about a third of the entire area of the island. Thousands of koalas died. There are eight nature reserves on the island, which are home to such endangered species as narrow-legged marsupial mice, monitor lizards, echidnas, bandicoots, glossy black cockatoos. "This place is called the little Noah's Ark. The island is a nature reserve. This is the most destructive fire we have seen in a long time," said environmentalist Heidi Groffen, stressing that all eight sites were badly damaged.

Tatra Beach, New South Wales

In Canberra, the capital of Australia, the level of air pollution 26 times exceeded the critical mark of "life—threatening". Fires are predicted to intensify due to heat, strong winds and thunderstorms.

Mogo Wild Animal Park

Kangaroo Island

Sarsfield, Victoria

Cobargo Main Street

Bridge in Genoa

Mallacoota Marina

Nature Reserve in Canberra

Blue Mountains, Australia

One of the houses

View of Mount Cook

Sydney

Mallakuta

Cobargo

Betka Road

Merimbula

Shoalhaven

Mini Golf in Batemans Bay

Araluen Motel

Blue Mountains, Australia