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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2019/dec/31/australia-fires-live-news-nsw-victoria-bushfires-latest-updates
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| Australia fires live: two dead in Cobargo as NSW and Victoria face bushfires threat – latest updates | Australia fires live: two dead in Cobargo as NSW and Victoria face bushfires threat – latest updates |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Conditions worsen with more than 4,000 on the beach at Mallacoota in Victoria after a devastating day yesterday and the death of a firefighter in New South Wales. Follow live news and latest updates | Conditions worsen with more than 4,000 on the beach at Mallacoota in Victoria after a devastating day yesterday and the death of a firefighter in New South Wales. Follow live news and latest updates |
| We are going to wind up the blog for now. Catastrophic conditions saw a horrendous day in Victoria and NSW. | |
| You can read a full wrap of the day’s events here. | |
| The NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner said it was the worst fire season on record in the state. | |
| Another two people are dead in NSW. A 63-year-old man and his 29-year-old son were found dead at their property near Cobargo. A woman told police her husband and son had stayed to fight the fires. | |
| Four people are missing in Victoria and a 72-year-old man is missing at Belowra in NSW. | |
| People on the south coast of NSW from Nowra to Moruya have been warned they will lose all telecommunications tonight, including landlines, mobiles and internet. This includes hospitals. | |
| The Australian Defence Force is sending military air and sea assets to Victoria to assist with evacuations. | |
| There are significant property losses across both states but the impact won’t be known until assessors can access the fire grounds. | |
| Thousands of people were forced to shelter on a jetty, waterfront, in the water and on boats and sand bars in Mallacoota, as a firefront bore down on the East Gippsland town early this morning. | |
| Terrifying scenes saw glowing red skies and pitch darkness at mid-morning. | |
| Towns across the East Gippsland region remain cut off even after the fire danger has passed, with roads, electricity and other services cut. | |
| A southerly change swept up the NSW coast late on Tuesday, moderating some fires but bringing strong gusty winds and little to no rain. | |
| Scott Morrison has extended the payments for volunteer firefighters to Queensland, and says other states are welcome to join. | |
| Fires are continuing to create their own thunderstorms, bringing lightning that is sparking new fires. | |
| More details were released about the death of the 28-year-old firefighter, Samuel McPaul, with veteran firefighters saying “freakish” conditions had to be seen to be believed, with a fire tornado picking up and flipping the eight-tonne truck. | |
| Several fires are under investigation by police in both Victoria and NSW. | |
| From the NSW police: | |
| A very quick reversal on that Sydney Morning Herald story – David Elliott is coming home. | |
| Better late than never, hey. | |
| Fires in NSW are being downgraded. | Fires in NSW are being downgraded. |
| The Greystanes and Charmhaven fires are now at watch and act level. | The Greystanes and Charmhaven fires are now at watch and act level. |
| There are still five emergency-level fires burning in the south. | There are still five emergency-level fires burning in the south. |
| The Charmhaven fire on the NSW Central Coast is reportedly being investigated by police. | The Charmhaven fire on the NSW Central Coast is reportedly being investigated by police. |
| Police have also released a statement about the two deaths reported earlier today. They have not released the names of the two men. | Police have also released a statement about the two deaths reported earlier today. They have not released the names of the two men. |
| “Why do we even have an emergency services minister if he is not going to be here in an emergency?” | “Why do we even have an emergency services minister if he is not going to be here in an emergency?” |
| The Sydney Morning Herald is quoting a few anonymous members of the NSW government, reacting to news that the state’s emergency services minister, David Elliott, is not cutting short his European holiday despite what the fire commissioner says is the worst season the state has ever seen, and despite saying he would come back if the situation demanded it. | The Sydney Morning Herald is quoting a few anonymous members of the NSW government, reacting to news that the state’s emergency services minister, David Elliott, is not cutting short his European holiday despite what the fire commissioner says is the worst season the state has ever seen, and despite saying he would come back if the situation demanded it. |
| Elliott’s decision to go on holidays was criticised in the wake of the nationwide criticism the prime minister faced for taking his family off to Hawaii (while his office told reporters he hadn’t). | Elliott’s decision to go on holidays was criticised in the wake of the nationwide criticism the prime minister faced for taking his family off to Hawaii (while his office told reporters he hadn’t). |
| Morrison apologised and came back early, but according to the SMH, Elliott has more to do in London. | Morrison apologised and came back early, but according to the SMH, Elliott has more to do in London. |
| Elliott has said he’s receiving regular briefings from the RFS, and the premier, Gladys Berejiklian, said today the buck stops with her and she feels completely supported. | Elliott has said he’s receiving regular briefings from the RFS, and the premier, Gladys Berejiklian, said today the buck stops with her and she feels completely supported. |
| There are horrifying photos coming out of Sarsfield, just north-east of Bairnsdale in Victoria. Up to 20 houses are lost in the community. | There are horrifying photos coming out of Sarsfield, just north-east of Bairnsdale in Victoria. Up to 20 houses are lost in the community. |
| Calla Wahlquist spoke to a number of evacuees today, taking shelter in Bairnsdale. | Calla Wahlquist spoke to a number of evacuees today, taking shelter in Bairnsdale. |
| Power on the NSW south coast is likely to be out for 24 hours. | Power on the NSW south coast is likely to be out for 24 hours. |
| Authorities earlier warned that all telecommunications (landlines, mobiles and internet) would be lost tonight. | Authorities earlier warned that all telecommunications (landlines, mobiles and internet) would be lost tonight. |
| “Energy and utilities have advised that due to the bushfires all power has been lost from South Nowra to Moruya and potentially beyond,” NSW police said. | “Energy and utilities have advised that due to the bushfires all power has been lost from South Nowra to Moruya and potentially beyond,” NSW police said. |
| “Power is unlikely to be restored for at least 24 hours. The power outage also affects communication lines and therefore some landlines are not operating which means internet is also affected. Additionally, communication towers have been affected impacting mobile services. | “Power is unlikely to be restored for at least 24 hours. The power outage also affects communication lines and therefore some landlines are not operating which means internet is also affected. Additionally, communication towers have been affected impacting mobile services. |
| “Energy companies are working with RFS to gain access to safely restore services although until it is safe for workers to enter affected areas this will be delayed as they are currently impacted by bushfires.” | “Energy companies are working with RFS to gain access to safely restore services although until it is safe for workers to enter affected areas this will be delayed as they are currently impacted by bushfires.” |
| From the federal minister for natural disaster and emergency management, David Littleproud: | From the federal minister for natural disaster and emergency management, David Littleproud: |
| An emergency warning has been issued this afternoon for a fire in Tasmania. | An emergency warning has been issued this afternoon for a fire in Tasmania. |
| “There is a bushfire at North East of Tower Hill,” the TFS says. | “There is a bushfire at North East of Tower Hill,” the TFS says. |
| “The fire will put North East of Tower Hill at very high risk. This fire will be uncontrollable. Burning embers, falling on North East of Tower Hill will threaten your home before the main fire.” | “The fire will put North East of Tower Hill at very high risk. This fire will be uncontrollable. Burning embers, falling on North East of Tower Hill will threaten your home before the main fire.” |
| Louis Boyle-Bryant is at the community centre in Mallacoota, which went through a pretty devastating and traumatic experience overnight and today. | Louis Boyle-Bryant is at the community centre in Mallacoota, which went through a pretty devastating and traumatic experience overnight and today. |
| Thousands of people evacuated to the waterfront, onto boats in the lake, and to the community centre as the large, out-of-control fire bore down on the town. | Thousands of people evacuated to the waterfront, onto boats in the lake, and to the community centre as the large, out-of-control fire bore down on the town. |
| While the fire has passed, the community is still isolated. | While the fire has passed, the community is still isolated. |
| A short time ago the people sheltered there received a briefing from emergency services, who said that the immediate threat was over. Boyle-Bryant said the authorities told them there was still a residual risk from burning trees and houses, and recommended against people going to check on their homes. | A short time ago the people sheltered there received a briefing from emergency services, who said that the immediate threat was over. Boyle-Bryant said the authorities told them there was still a residual risk from burning trees and houses, and recommended against people going to check on their homes. |
| “But some folks have gone to check anyway, if they can get past fire lines,” he said. | “But some folks have gone to check anyway, if they can get past fire lines,” he said. |
| “Most of the campground only sustained minor damage so a lot of people from the wharf have gone back to their tents/caravans. | “Most of the campground only sustained minor damage so a lot of people from the wharf have gone back to their tents/caravans. |
| “I’ll stay in the community centre again tonight. Bit shaken and don’t want to set up tents again.” | “I’ll stay in the community centre again tonight. Bit shaken and don’t want to set up tents again.” |
| Marine wind warnings for the rest of today: | Marine wind warnings for the rest of today: |
| Gale warning for the following areas:Sydney closed waters, Hunter coast, Sydney coast and Illawarra coast | Gale warning for the following areas:Sydney closed waters, Hunter coast, Sydney coast and Illawarra coast |
| Strong wind warning for the following areas:Byron coast, Coffs coast, Macquarie coast, Batemans coast and Eden coast | Strong wind warning for the following areas:Byron coast, Coffs coast, Macquarie coast, Batemans coast and Eden coast |
| Wind warnings for tomorrow: | Wind warnings for tomorrow: |
| Strong wind warning for the following areas:Coffs coast, Macquarie coast, Hunter coast and Sydney coast | Strong wind warning for the following areas:Coffs coast, Macquarie coast, Hunter coast and Sydney coast |