Wildfires burn down under, students still safe abroad
Alyssa Scott
Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: News
Violent fires swept across the state of Victoria in southern Australia killing 200 people. Beginning on Feb. 7, authorities reported the fires to be the largest in the nation's history and rescue units continue to clean up the mess, discovering more dead bodies.
As this tragedy struck southern Australia, Sacred Heart University students arrived to study abroad. Located in a different part of the country, they were unharmed by the fires.
Marylou Roof, the coordinator of the study abroad program, says that the fires have not affected the program, and students may still turn in applications for future terms. Being a scary time for Australia, she does not know if the fires will discourage students from signing up for future semesters.
"They are studying at the University of Notre Dame Australia in Fremantle which is near Perth in Western Australia," said Roof. "Fortunately, they are not near the site of the fires which I understand is in and around Melbourne in the southern state of Victoria."
Having just arrived in Australia, students entered a chaotic state for the country. Even though they were not directly harmed by the fires, some students still shared the sadness and apprehension that has spread throughout Australia.
"I was here while everything was going on with the fires. Luckily I wasn't anywhere near them or my family. It was still pretty scary," said junior Nicole Pepin.
As one of the few who were not affected, many report to be facing hard times.
According to the Boston Globe, "The tally of homes destroyed in the wave of wildfires that swept Victoria state a week ago jumped to more than 1,800. The Victorian government also raised the number of people left homeless, to 7,000."
Although many Australians remain unscathed, many of them now carry other burdens. MSNBC states that "These survivors are now living in tents, caravans, borrowed houses or with friends and family. They want to go home."
Those who were able to help have begun to take action.
As this tragedy struck southern Australia, Sacred Heart University students arrived to study abroad. Located in a different part of the country, they were unharmed by the fires.
Marylou Roof, the coordinator of the study abroad program, says that the fires have not affected the program, and students may still turn in applications for future terms. Being a scary time for Australia, she does not know if the fires will discourage students from signing up for future semesters.
"They are studying at the University of Notre Dame Australia in Fremantle which is near Perth in Western Australia," said Roof. "Fortunately, they are not near the site of the fires which I understand is in and around Melbourne in the southern state of Victoria."
Having just arrived in Australia, students entered a chaotic state for the country. Even though they were not directly harmed by the fires, some students still shared the sadness and apprehension that has spread throughout Australia.
"I was here while everything was going on with the fires. Luckily I wasn't anywhere near them or my family. It was still pretty scary," said junior Nicole Pepin.
As one of the few who were not affected, many report to be facing hard times.
According to the Boston Globe, "The tally of homes destroyed in the wave of wildfires that swept Victoria state a week ago jumped to more than 1,800. The Victorian government also raised the number of people left homeless, to 7,000."
Although many Australians remain unscathed, many of them now carry other burdens. MSNBC states that "These survivors are now living in tents, caravans, borrowed houses or with friends and family. They want to go home."
Those who were able to help have begun to take action.
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