- Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison has apologized for vacationing in Hawaii while bushfires are engulfing three states in his country.
- He cut his trip short according to the BBC.
- "I've obviously returned from leave, and I know that has caused some great anxiety in Australia," Morrison said at a press conference on Sunday. "Jenny and I Acknowledge that."
- The fires are intensified by incredibly hot temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds.
- It was recently revealed that "fires near me" was Australia's top searched item on Google in 2019.
- Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison has apologized for going on vacation while wildfires spread across his country. Morrison was enjoying a trip in Hawaii, but received so much criticism he cut it short, according to the BBC.
The bushfire crisis has spread across three states so far, and one person was found dead on Saturday. Two firefighters, Geoffrey Keaton, 32, and Andrew O'Dwyer, 36, were also killed in New South Wales on Thursday.
"I've obviously returned from leave, and I know that has caused some great anxiety in Australia," Morrison said at a press conference on Sunday. "Jenny and I Acknowledge that."
He said if he could turn back time he would have made a different decision.
"When you make a promise to your kids you try and keep it, but as prime minister you have other responsibilities," he said. "And I accept that and I accept the criticism. And that's why Jenny and I agreed that it was important that I return, particularly after the terrible tragedies we saw late this week."
Australia recorded its hottest day in history in December — reaching 40.9 degrees Celsius, or 105.6 degrees Fahrenheit, and passing the previous record of 40.3 C.
According to the BBC, some rain is forecast in the country next week, but this will be followed with more scorching temperatures. It is believed the heat, low humidity, and strong winds are all contributing to the intensity of the bushfires.
It was recently revealed that "fires near me" was Australia's top searched item on Google in 2019.
Read more:
13 photos show Sydney under a blanket of smoke as bushfires continue to ravage the region
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