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Australia fires: Fires worsen as every Australian state hits 40C | Australia fires: Fires worsen as every Australian state hits 40C |
(32 minutes later) | |
Scores of fires are burning out of control across Australia amid a heatwave that has seen temperatures exceed 40C (104F) in every state. | |
The most dangerous fires on Monday were in the state of Victoria. | |
About 30,000 residents and tourists were urged to flee East Gippsland - a popular holiday region - but evacuations were later deemed too risky as fires encroached on major roads. | About 30,000 residents and tourists were urged to flee East Gippsland - a popular holiday region - but evacuations were later deemed too risky as fires encroached on major roads. |
A volunteer firefighter died battling a blaze in the state of New South Wales. | |
The state's premier, Gladys Berejiklian, described the death as "heartbreaking". | |
"Words fail at times like this," she wrote on Twitter. Two others were taken to hospital with burns after battling the blaze, east of the city of Albury. | |
In total, 10 people have died in the nation's bushfire crisis since September. | |
Meteorologists say a climate system in the Indian Ocean, known as the dipole, is the main driver behind the extreme heat in Australia. | |
How bad are the blazes in Victoria? | How bad are the blazes in Victoria? |
Scorching temperatures, strong winds, and thunderstorms created dangerous conditions in Victoria on Monday. | |
In the East Gippsland region, three fires burning near the towns of Bruthen, Buchan and Bonang rapidly expanded as temperatures soared to the mid-40Cs. | In the East Gippsland region, three fires burning near the towns of Bruthen, Buchan and Bonang rapidly expanded as temperatures soared to the mid-40Cs. |
Officials said the wind-driven blazes were "racing" towards the coast, and had moved faster than predicted. | Officials said the wind-driven blazes were "racing" towards the coast, and had moved faster than predicted. |
"We have had a challenging day in Victoria," said Andrew Crispin, the state's emergency management commissioner. | "We have had a challenging day in Victoria," said Andrew Crispin, the state's emergency management commissioner. |
He said the huge blazes had produced their own weather systems from smoke columns "punching into the atmosphere 14km high". | He said the huge blazes had produced their own weather systems from smoke columns "punching into the atmosphere 14km high". |
"There's lightning coming out of these columns. It is unpredictable [and] it's dangerous out there," he said. | "There's lightning coming out of these columns. It is unpredictable [and] it's dangerous out there," he said. |
Similar fire-generated thunderstorms - or pyrocumulonimbus - were also recorded in New South Wales (NSW). | |
Lightning strikes in dry, drought-affected forests have the potential to quickly become fires that threaten lives and homes. | Lightning strikes in dry, drought-affected forests have the potential to quickly become fires that threaten lives and homes. |
Dry lightning sparked at least 70 new fires in the region in the past 24 hours, officials said. | Dry lightning sparked at least 70 new fires in the region in the past 24 hours, officials said. |
A 250km (155-mile) stretch of the Princes Highway east of Bairnsdale was closed on Monday. | A 250km (155-mile) stretch of the Princes Highway east of Bairnsdale was closed on Monday. |
On Sunday, Mr Crispin urged people in the region - about 280km (175 miles) east of Melbourne - to "get out", but confirmed on Monday that many people had remained in the region. | On Sunday, Mr Crispin urged people in the region - about 280km (175 miles) east of Melbourne - to "get out", but confirmed on Monday that many people had remained in the region. |
Elsewhere in the state, a major New Year's Eve music festival has been cancelled after organisers said the bushfire threat was too dangerous. | Elsewhere in the state, a major New Year's Eve music festival has been cancelled after organisers said the bushfire threat was too dangerous. |
Some 9,000 people had already been camping at the Falls Festival in Lorne. Access is by a single track, meaning it would not be possible for festival-goers to evacuate quickly. | Some 9,000 people had already been camping at the Falls Festival in Lorne. Access is by a single track, meaning it would not be possible for festival-goers to evacuate quickly. |
"We are gutted to make this call but the safety of our patrons, artists and staff is our main priority," said organiser Jessica Ducrou. | "We are gutted to make this call but the safety of our patrons, artists and staff is our main priority," said organiser Jessica Ducrou. |
What about the other states? | What about the other states? |
In South Australia, crews battled "catastrophic" fire conditions in a wine region north-east of Adelaide. | In South Australia, crews battled "catastrophic" fire conditions in a wine region north-east of Adelaide. |
The island state of Tasmania also struggled to contain bushfires amid a sweltering heatwave. | The island state of Tasmania also struggled to contain bushfires amid a sweltering heatwave. |
Hobart, the state's capital, experienced its hottest December day on record when temperatures hit 40.8C on Monday. | Hobart, the state's capital, experienced its hottest December day on record when temperatures hit 40.8C on Monday. |
More than 100 blazes continue to burn in NSW, the state worst-affected by the fires so far this year. | More than 100 blazes continue to burn in NSW, the state worst-affected by the fires so far this year. |
Temperatures exceeded 41C in parts of the state, including in Sydney, Australia's largest city. | Temperatures exceeded 41C in parts of the state, including in Sydney, Australia's largest city. |
Officials have warned that "deteriorating weather conditions" could worsen bushfires in the state on Tuesday. | Officials have warned that "deteriorating weather conditions" could worsen bushfires in the state on Tuesday. |
The town of Balmoral, south-west of Sydney, was largely destroyed on 22 December amid similar conditions. | The town of Balmoral, south-west of Sydney, was largely destroyed on 22 December amid similar conditions. |
Will New Year's Eve fireworks go ahead? | Will New Year's Eve fireworks go ahead? |
With total fire ban restrictions in place, several regions have cancelled their New Year's Eve fireworks including the Australian Capital Territory, where the nation's capital city Canberra is located. | With total fire ban restrictions in place, several regions have cancelled their New Year's Eve fireworks including the Australian Capital Territory, where the nation's capital city Canberra is located. |
However in Sydney, authorities say the city's harbour fireworks display - watched by millions around the world - will go ahead despite criticism. | However in Sydney, authorities say the city's harbour fireworks display - watched by millions around the world - will go ahead despite criticism. |
NSW's deputy premier broke ranks with the rest of the state government on Monday when he said cancelling the fireworks should be a "very easy decision". | NSW's deputy premier broke ranks with the rest of the state government on Monday when he said cancelling the fireworks should be a "very easy decision". |
"If regional areas have had fireworks banned, then let's not have two classes of citizens," said John Barilaro. "We're all in this crisis together." | "If regional areas have had fireworks banned, then let's not have two classes of citizens," said John Barilaro. "We're all in this crisis together." |
More than a quarter of a million people have signed a petition calling for fireworks to be cancelled and the money spent on fighting fires. | |
Yet the city's authorities say the cancellation would have little practical effect on affected communities. | Yet the city's authorities say the cancellation would have little practical effect on affected communities. |
Details of a bushfire relief fund will be projected on the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the night. | Details of a bushfire relief fund will be projected on the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the night. |
Across Australia, the fires have destroyed at least four million hectares (9.9m acres) in five states since September. | Across Australia, the fires have destroyed at least four million hectares (9.9m acres) in five states since September. |
On Saturday Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that volunteer firefighters in NSW would receive compensation for loss of earnings after spending time away from jobs to battle bushfires. | |
Have you been told to evacuate? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been told to evacuate? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |