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Australia fires: Troops called to tackle fires Australia fires: Troops called to tackle fires
(about 2 hours later)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced 3,000 reserve troops will be deployed to help tackle raging bushfires across the country.Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced 3,000 reserve troops will be deployed to help tackle raging bushfires across the country.
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said this is the first time this has happened in Australia's history. Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said this is the first time this had happened in Australia's history.
Temperatures have surpassed 40C (104F) in parts of south-east Australia. Officials had warned that Saturday was set to be a "dangerous day". Temperatures surpassed 40C (104F) in parts of south-east Australia on Saturday as fires ravaged through homes and land.
Since September, fires in Australia have killed at least 23 people. Since September, the fires in Australia have killed at least 23 people.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Mr Morrison told reporters: "We have seen this disaster escalate to an entirely new level."
An emergency warning was issued for areas of eastern Victoria that told remaining residents it was now too late to leave.
"The safest option is to plan how you will safely take shelter indoors as conditions worsen," the warning said, adding: "Leaving now would be deadly."
Residents were instructed to attempt to take shelter indoors or in a large clearing or body of water.
Dozens of people are missing and some 1,500 homes have already been lost this fire season.Dozens of people are missing and some 1,500 homes have already been lost this fire season.
Mr Morrison also announced A$20m (£10m) has been allocated to lease four water bomber planes. Defence force bases would provide temporary accommodation, he said. "We have seen this disaster escalate to an entirely new level," Mr Morrison told reporters at a press conference on Saturday.
Authorities in south-east Australia are bracing for a weekend of high temperatures and strong winds, which are threatening to worsen bushfire conditions across the country. What happened on Saturday?
What is the situation on Saturday? Skies reddened and darkened in areas of south-eastern Australia as wind gusts exacerbated the fires.
In Victoria, three fires have converged overnight becoming a 6,000-hectare blaze. Emergency warnings were issued throughout the day urging residents to leave certain areas.
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. In some places, including the Snowy Mountains, people were told it was too late to evacuate. They were instructed to shelter indoors or in a large clearing or body of water.
Residents in areas under emergency warning have now been told they cannot leave. Areas affected include parts of the Snowy Mountains. In Victoria, three fires converged overnight into a 6,000-hectare blaze.
By the end of the day, 73 new fires had started and 53 were still burning. Of these, 13 were classed as emergency fires.
Authorities said 900,000 hectares (2.2m acres) were burnt out, according to ABC News.
In some good news, the number of people reported unaccounted for in the state reduced from 28 to six.
In New South Wales (NSW), about 100 fires are currently burning.
According to the Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons, more than half are not contained.
He said earlier in the day that Saturday would be "a long and difficult day for everybody".
Several power lines went down in Snowy Region and residents were urged to reduce unnecessary electricity usage.
Phone lines are down in some areas of the state, according to 9 News.Phone lines are down in some areas of the state, according to 9 News.
What other areas are affected? Tens of thousands of properties lost power in Batemans Bay and Moruya region, although many of these were restored later in the day.
Fires on Kangaroo Island in the state of South Australia killed two people - a well-known pilot named Dick Lang and his son, Clayton.
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.
Some footage showed bushfires generating their own weather systems, including tornadoes and thunderstorms.
What is being done to fight the fires?
As well as deploying the military, Mr Morrison announced A$20m (£10m) had been allocated to lease four water bomber planes. Defence force bases would provide temporary accommodation, he said.
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.
Another ship, HMAS Adelaide, will set sail from Sydney on Saturday and will be located offshore ready to evacuate citizens from the coast if needed.Another ship, HMAS Adelaide, will set sail from Sydney on Saturday and will be located offshore ready to evacuate citizens from the coast if needed.
In the state of South Australia, two people have died in a bushfire on Kangaroo Island. NSW has declared a week-long state of emergency. Tens of thousands of residents and holidaymakers have been told to evacuate coastal areas, where a "tourist leave zone" has been declared.
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.
Near Batemans Bay, some 30,000 people have lost power. Power company Essential Energy says it is working to try and safely restore power, ABC News reports.
Four emergency warnings have been issued in NSW. Residents have been told to take shelter as the fire approaches.
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 handling of the bushfires. He has faced persistent accusations of being too absent, including by taking a holiday to Hawaii, and underplaying the role of climate change.Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been criticised for his handling of the bushfires. He has faced persistent accusations of being too absent, including by taking a holiday to Hawaii, and underplaying the role of climate change.
In a news conference on Friday, he said he understood that people had "suffered a great lot" and were "feeling very raw". During a news conference on Friday, he said he understood that people had "suffered a great lot" and were "feeling very raw".
Have you been affected by the fires? If it is safe for you to do so you can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Have you been affected by the fires? If it is safe for you to do so you can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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