MAKING sense of the scale of the tragedy caused by the unprecedented bushfire crisis can be hard, says Australian High Commissioner to Fiji John Feakes.
He made the comment during the Australia Day celebrations held at his residence in Princes Rd, Tamavua yesterday.
He said he had to dispense with tradition and speak more on the bushfire crisis which he termed frankly heartbreaking.
“Hundreds of millions of animals have been lost and over 10 million hectares — many times the entire land mass of Fiji — had been burnt out,” he said.
“Over 3000 homes have been destroyed and the number is sure to climb as the damage assessments roll in.”
Mr Feakes said to make sense of the scale of the tragedy was hard because the numbers were too big.
He has acknowledged the support shown towards Australia by the Fijian Government, Fiji diaspora, local businesses and the Fijian people.
“The community response has been remarkable, at this terrible time we have seen the absolute best of my country.”
