U.S. State Department Issues Travel Warning for Australia Due to Bushfires
by Daniel McCarthy /
The United States Department of State issued a Level 2 travel advisory for Australia on Wednesday, telling travelers to “exercise increased caution in Australia due to natural disaster/bushfires.”
“The current bushfire season is one of the worst in Australia’s recorded history,” the warning reads, adding that the fires may continue through March or April of this year.
While the State Department is not telling citizens not to travel to Australia (the Level 2 warning is only one step up from its Level 1 “Exercise Normal Precautions” warning and the same as the warning for countries like Belgium and Spain), it is telling them to “consider postponing their trip to affected areas until the danger of natural disaster has passed.”
“Even in areas not directly affected by bushfires, smoke is causing poor air quality. Smoke can affect people’s health and it is important for everyone to reduce exposure,” the warning reads (air quality can be checked here).
For those that do decide to travel, the State Department recommends they “monitor local news” and have plans ready to leave the country that are not reliant on U.S. government assistance should they need to.
“Follow the notices and updates of the state or territory emergency services where you are,” the State Department wrote.