Tongan communities in Australia are anxiously monitoring unfolding bushfire emergencies in the state of Victoria, where firefighters are battling multiple out-of-control blazes as night falls—most notably the massive Longwood fire in central Victoria.
The Longwood blaze has threatened several townships as it continues to spread, prompting urgent warnings from authorities and forcing families, including many Pacific Islanders, to prepare for possible evacuation. Victoria is home to a significant Tongan population, particularly in regional centres and outer suburban areas, heightening concern among relatives in Tonga, New Zealand, and the wider diaspora.
Emergency services fear that a forecast change in wind direction on Friday evening could severely hamper containment efforts, pushing the fires into new and unpredictable paths.
In a distressing development, three people—including a child—remain unaccounted for after a house was destroyed by fire in Longwood. Authorities have not released further details, but the incident has intensified fears within affected communities.
The Country Fire Authority said cooler and calmer conditions expected in the coming days may allow crews to better assess the full impact of the fires, which are burning across multiple fronts.
Victoria is home to an established Tongan community, including families in the regional city of Mildura, and to many Tongans who travel from the kingdom under seasonal and labour-hire work schemes.
Mildura is approximately 498 kilometres (about a 5 hour and 40 minute drive) northwest of Longwood, the area in central Victoria where the significant bushfire is burning.
While the Longwood fire is a serious concern, Mildura is geographically distant and as of recent updates, the immediate danger and evacuation warnings are focused on communities in central and north-east Victoria, closer to the fire front (such as Ruffy, Avenel, and areas near the Hume Freeway).
The Rural City of Mildura has been included in a state of disaster declaration area, which covers a broad range of municipalities across Victoria to allow for enhanced emergency management powers.
However, this is a general declaration for the region and does not mean Mildura is under direct threat from the current Longwood blaze
