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Australia fires: Evacuation call stepped up as crisis worsens Australia fires: Heat and winds expected to stoke fires
(about 3 hours later)
Authorities in Australia have urged tens of thousands of people to move to safety amid concerns that bushfires will burn out of control this weekend. Authorities in south-east Australia are bracing for a weekend of high temperatures and strong winds threatening to worsen bushfire conditions across the country.
"If you don't need to be in the area, you need to leave," warned New South Wales (NSW) Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Temperatures are expected to soar above 40C (104F) in parts of south-east Australia on Saturday.
Temperatures are expected to soar above 40C (104F) in parts of south-east Australia on Saturday, with strong winds increasing the fire danger. Officials have warned it is expected to be a "very dangerous day".
Officials said it is expected to be a "very dangerous day". Since September, fires in Australia have killed at least 21 people, while dozens are missing.
NSW Rural Fire Service deputy commissioner Rob Rogers warned that fires could move "frighteningly" quickly on Saturday because of the extreme weather conditions. What is the situation on Saturday?
"We are unfortunately very likely to lose homes but we will be very happy and call it a success if there are no lives lost," he said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. In Victoria, three fires have converged overnight becoming a 6,000-hectare blaze.
In the Snowy Mountains, authorities issued a 10:00 (23:00 GMT) evacuation deadline. The state has already declared a disaster in areas that are home to some 100,000 people and it had urged residents to leave. Twenty-one people remain unaccounted for in Victoria.
Since September, fires in Australia have killed at least 20 people, while dozens are missing. Some residents in the upper region of the Snowy Mountains have now been told it is too late to leave. The emergency services issued an alert to remaining residents, telling them to take shelter indoors as the conditions worsen.
What is the forecast for Saturday? Phone lines are down in some areas of the state, according to 9 News.
Meteorologists have forecast extreme heat and strong winds in fire-affected areas in south-east Australia on Saturday. What other areas are affected?
Victoria has declared a state of disaster in areas home to some 100,000 people, and had urged residents to leave.
The state's Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said it was possible that some fires could merge in the coming days.
On Friday, the Australian navy evacuated some 1,000 tourists and residents who were trapped in the fire-ravaged town of Mallacoota on the Victoria coast.On Friday, the Australian navy evacuated some 1,000 tourists and residents who were trapped in the fire-ravaged town of Mallacoota on the Victoria coast.
The first evacuees arrived in the Mornington Peninsula on Saturday morning.The first evacuees arrived in the Mornington Peninsula on Saturday morning.
NSW has also declared a week-long state of emergency, with authorities urging tens of thousands of residents and holidaymakers to evacuate coastal areas where a "tourist leave zone" has been declared. In the state of South Australia, two people have died in a bushfire on Kangaroo Island.
"There is still a window for people to leave," Ms Berejiklian said on Friday. "If you don't need to be in the area, you need to leave." A quarter of the island has been ravaged by fire. South Australia state premier Steven Marshall said much of Flinders Chase National Park had been "taken out" by bushfires.
New South Wales (NSW) has declared a week-long state of emergency. Tens of thousands of residents and holidaymakers were warned to evacuate coastal areas, where a "tourist leave zone" has been declared.
NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons has warned Saturday will be "a long and difficult day for everybody".
More than one hundred fires are currently burning in NSW and, according to Mr Fitzsimmons, more than half are not contained.
"We know the fires we've got already.. .but what we need to be vigilant about today as well is the prospect of any new fires that might start under these hot, dry, windy conditions," he said.
Some 3,000 firefighters are on the ground in NSW, according to News.com.au.Some 3,000 firefighters are on the ground in NSW, according to News.com.au.
The volunteer NSW Rural Fire Service said many fires in the region could "pose a serious threat to life".
"If you are in the path of these fires leave tonight before conditions worsen tomorrow morning," it warned on Friday.
Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance described the forecast conditions as a "blast furnace".
In the state of South Australia, further west, fire crews have been battling a bushfire on Kangaroo Island, the country's third-largest island.
A quarter of the island has been ravaged by fire and authorities are warning of significant property losses, according to ABC News.
What's the background?What's the background?
The fires in Australia began in September. In addition to the fatalities, they have so far destroyed more than 1,300 homes, as well as millions of acres of bushland.The fires in Australia began in September. In addition to the fatalities, they have so far destroyed more than 1,300 homes, as well as millions of acres of bushland.
Meteorologists say a climate system in the Indian Ocean, known as the dipole, is the main driver behind the extreme heat in Australia.Meteorologists say a climate system in the Indian Ocean, known as the dipole, is the main driver behind the extreme heat in Australia.
However, many parts of Australia have been in drought conditions, some for years, which has made it easier for the fires to spread and grow.However, many parts of Australia have been in drought conditions, some for years, which has made it easier for the fires to spread and grow.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been criticised for his response. In a news conference on Friday, he said he understood that people had "suffered a great lot" and were "feeling very raw".Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been criticised for his response. In a news conference on Friday, he said he understood that people had "suffered a great lot" and were "feeling very raw".