"Apocalypse": The sky in New Zealand has turned orange due to the fires in Australia

The city of Auckland, more than 2,000 miles south-east of Australia, was covered in thick smoke. We are so far away and still the smoke is so heavy "

"Apocalypse": The sky in New Zealand has turned orange due to the fires in Australia

The huge fires smoke in Australia covered parts of neighboring New Zealand on Sunday. The city skyline of Auckland, more than 2,000 miles south-east of Australia, was light orange in color. Police have asked residents to stop calling the emergency services and report the matter to them.

Zimana Dormer-Didowitz told Reuters that the look was shaky and felt like "apocalypse." "We're in Auckland, New Zealand, that's why we're in shock from it. We're so far away and still the smoke is so heavy," she said. She told how the exposure to smoke affected her. "My asthma is getting stronger, and I'm starting to notice that my breath is feeling a little bit again."

At least 24 people perished in the huge wildfires in Australia, which destroyed more than 1,500 homes. Tens of thousands of animals perished, and the fire consumed more than 50,000 square kilometers.

Conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison, criticized for his treatment of the disaster, called on 3,000 reserve soldiers to help fight the fire. Despite rains that started to fall, about 200 fires are still burning. In the capital, Canberra, air quality ranks worst in the world, and residents have been urged not to leave their homes.

Thousands flee to shores of Australia from fire: "Ash dropped from the sky"

"We're in shock from that." Oakland skyline today (Photo: Reuters)

Oakland city skyline, New Zealand, orange due to wildfires in Australia, January 5, 2020 (Photo: Reuters)