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Australia bushfires: Mega blaze likely on Friday evening Australia bushfire crews battle mega blaze near Snowy Mountains
(about 3 hours later)
Two of Australia's bush fires are likely to merge into a so-called "mega blaze" on Friday evening, authorities have warned. Gale force winds have fanned two of Australia's massive bushfires into a feared "mega blaze", with authorities warning of worse weather to come.
The merger is expected at the border of New South Wales and Victoria and has been feared for days. It had been feared for days that fire would spill over the New South Wales-Victoria border in the Snowy Mountains.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned Friday would be "a difficult day in the eastern states" amid forecasts of heat, strong winds and dry lightning. Forecasts are for more heat, strong winds and dry lightning. In South Australia, firefighters also battled infernos on Kangaroo Island.
In South Australia, Kangaroo Island also faced an abrupt threat. In parts of both states, residents were told to leave their homes.
A spokesman for the New South Wales (NSW) Rural Fire Service told the BBC the merger of two fires - both of which are out of control - was "imminent" and expected at about 8pm (09:00 GMT). Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people across Australia took part in climate change protests on Friday.
The two fires at Dunns Road and East Ournie Creek has firefighters bracing for a difficult night - and aircraft won't be able to operate after dark. In cities including Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, demonstrators turned out to press the government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison to make a quick transition away from fossil fuels.
More than 100 bushfires are burning in worst-hit NSW alone, but the danger is equally great in Victoria. Across many parts of the country deadly forest fires that have raged for weeks are threatening to advance again as temperatures soar. The winds mean fires could spread quickly and unpredictably this weekend.
The mega blaze south of the Snowy Mountains came after two fires at Dunns Road and East Ournie Creek joined up, following another massive fire merger nearby earlier in the week. An area totalling nearly 600,000 hectares (1.5m acres) - about four times the size of Greater London - is now ablaze.
New South Wales (NSW) Rural Fire Service spokesman Anthony Clark said a "finger" of the East Ournie Creek blaze had collided with the fire at Dunns Road on Friday evening.
Mr Clark said a number of small fires started by lightning strikes had merged and grown, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
"It provides a challenge for firefighters as, when they merge, it increases the size and opens up more uncontained perimeter."
Fires in NSW have destroyed about 1,000 homes since the New Year and more than 150 bushfires are burning there.
But the danger is equally great further south in Victoria.
Victoria's Country Fire Authority issued several emergency warnings on Friday, telling people to evacuate before it became too dangerous.Victoria's Country Fire Authority issued several emergency warnings on Friday, telling people to evacuate before it became too dangerous.
In parts of both Victoria and NSW, authorities urged people to leave their homes "to avoid tragedy". Making the task harder for fire crews, aircraft were unable to operate overnight in the dark.
Fires in NSW have destroyed about 1,000 homes since the New Year.
Mr Morrison said that two ships remained off the coast of NSW ready to evacuate towns if needed.
What happened on Kangaroo Island?What happened on Kangaroo Island?
A town on the island in South Australia spent the night cut off by bushfires as the weather whipped up the most significant threat for almost a week. The largest town on the island in South Australia was cut off by bushfires as the weather whipped up the most significant threat for almost a week.
Erratic winds on Thursday had amplified a blaze which isolated the island's biggest town, Kingscote, from roads. Erratic winds amplified a blaze which isolated Kingscote from roads. Crews are battling strong winds, soaring temperatures and parched bushland.
Since September, at least 27 people have died in Australia's bushfires, which have destroyed more than 10.3 million hectares nationally. More than 150,000 ha of forest have already been destroyed on the island, which is renowned for its unique ecology and wildlife.
"We are a long way from the end of this crisis and this disaster," Mr Morrison said. Since September, at least 27 people have died in Australia's bushfires, which have destroyed more than 10.3m ha nationally.
Firefighters from the US, Canada and New Zealand are among those who have flown in to assist fatigued crews.Firefighters from the US, Canada and New Zealand are among those who have flown in to assist fatigued crews.
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.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.
What questions do you have about the Australian fires?What questions do you have about the Australian fires?
In some cases your question will be published, displaying your name, age and location as you provide it, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. Please ensure you have read the terms and conditions.In some cases your question will be published, displaying your name, age and location as you provide it, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. Please ensure you have read the terms and conditions.
Use this form to ask your question:Use this form to ask your question: