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Australia bushfires: Country braces for 'difficult day' Australia bushfires: Residents stranded as fires escalate
(about 5 hours later)
Australia is bracing itself for another day of bushfires with high temperatures and strong winds predicted. An Australian town has spent the night cut off by bushfires as volatile weather whips up the most significant threat for almost a week.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned Friday would be "a difficult day in the eastern states". Authorities urged people in parts of Victoria to leave their homes or risk being trapped. Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned Friday would be "a difficult day in the eastern states" amid forecasts of heat, strong winds and dry lightning.
Bushfires in the country have destroyed more than 10.3 million hectares of land in recent months. In South Australia, one town on Kangaroo Island faced an abrupt threat.
At least 27 people have died since September. Erratic winds on Thursday amplified a blaze which isolated the island's biggest town, Kingscote, from roads.
Mr Morrison said "We are a long way from the end of this crisis and this disaster." He added that two ships remain off the coast of New South Wales (NSW) ready to evacuate towns if needed. About 1,800 people live there.
More than one hundred bushfires are still burning along the NSW - Victoria border. Some residents spent the night sleeping close to the water's edge, but ferry services were expected to resume on Friday.
Temperatures in Victoria could reach 40C in some parts of the state including East Gippsland which has already seen huge bushfires. However temperatures are not expected to be as high as last weekend. In parts of Victoria and New South Wales (NSW), authorities urged people to leave their homes "to avoid tragedy".
Daniel Andrews, premier of Victoria, said residents choosing to stay in high risk areas would be jeopardising their own safety. Since September, at least 27 people have died in bushfires which have destroyed more than 10.3 million hectares nationally.
"We are a long way from the end of this crisis and this disaster," Mr Morrison said.
What's the threat on Friday?
More than 100 bushfires are still burning in worst-hit NSW alone, but the danger is expected to be as great in Victoria.
The state's Country Fire Authority issued several emergency warnings early on Friday, warning people to evacuate before it became too dangerous.
Temperatures in the state could reach 40C in some areas including East Gippsland which has already seen huge bushfires.
In NSW, the state's Rural Fire Service has warned of "very high, severe and extreme fire dangers."In NSW, the state's Rural Fire Service has warned of "very high, severe and extreme fire dangers."
Fires in the state have destroyed about 1,000 homes since the New Year.Fires in the state have destroyed about 1,000 homes since the New Year.
The NSW government has announced A$1 billion (£524 million) to help rebuild towns destroyed by bushfires. The funding is in addition to the A$2 billion announced by the federal government. Mr Morrison said that two ships remained off the coast of NSW ready to evacuate towns if needed.
On Thursday, a waterbombing helicopter crashed into a reservoir in the Bega Valley Shire region as it was refilling there. The pilot, contracted by the Rural Fire Service survived. The state government has announced A$1bn (£524m) to help rebuild towns destroyed by bushfires. The funding is in addition to the A$2 billion announced by the federal government.
On Kangaroo Island in South Australia, the town of Kingscote has been cut off by the fires. Roads out of the town are closed and some people have spent the night sleeping close to the water's edge. Two emergency warnings are currently in place. Firefighters from the US, Canada and New Zealand are among those who have flown in to assist fatigued crews.
An estimated 25,000 koalas were killed when flames devastated Kangaroo Island last week. On Thursday, a waterbombing helicopter crashed into a reservoir in the Bega Valley Shire region as it was refilling there. The pilot, contracted by the Rural Fire Service, survived.
The crisis has also taken a vast toll on wildlife. An estimated 25,000 koalas were killed when flames devastated Kangaroo Island last week.
Australia saw its hottest and driest year on record in 2019 due to two specific weather phenomena and climate change, the Bureau of Meteorology said on Thursday.Australia saw its hottest and driest year on record in 2019 due to two specific weather phenomena and climate change, the Bureau of Meteorology said on Thursday.
Authorities have warned that the huge fires, spurred by high temperatures, wind and a three-year-drought, will persist until there is substantial rainfall. Authorities have warned that the huge fires, spurred by high temperatures, wind, and a three-year-drought, will persist until there is substantial rainfall.