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Australia
evacuates three coastal regions as fire risk grows
30
December, 2015
SYDNEY
(Reuters) – Hundreds of residents and holidaymakers along southern
Australia’s popular Great Ocean Road were evacuated on Thursday as
hot, windy weather threatened to recharge bushfires that destroyed
more than 100 homes on Christmas Day.
Residents
in three coastal towns in the popular holiday area were advised to
leave their homes as temperatures were forecast to reach a high of
almost 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). The hot summer weather
threatened to escalate fires that have been burning for almost two
weeks.
“The
local community has listened to the best of advice and will leave
their homes because on such a challenging day, with that fire still
active, so close to them, it’s not safe for them nor is it safe for
those who have been called on to protect them,” Victoria state
Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters.
The
fires were started by a lightning strike on Dec. 19 and continue to
burn and spread. The Country Fire Authority estimates the blazes have
burnt out more than 2,500 hectares (6,175 acres) of land.
Authorities
estimate that 116 homes were destroyed by the fires on Christmas Day.
Once
the immediate threat has passed, some relief could be on the horizon
for residents with temperatures forecast to drop in the coming days.
Isolated showers are also predicted for some parts of the southern
coast.
The
Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s biggest tourist draws with
its spectacular scenery and unusual offshore rock formations. Parts
of the road remained closed to traffic on Thursday during what is
typically one of its busiest times of the year.
In
2009, Victoria witnessed Australia’s worst-ever bushfire disaster,
with 173 people killed in what has been dubbed “Black Saturday”.
Fire threat forces Australians to flee homes
Police
block the Great Ocean Road through to Apollo Bay in Lorne due to
fears the bushfire would flare up again. Photo: AAP
/ Tracey Nearmy
31
December, 2015
Residents
in three coastal towns in the popular holiday area were advised to
leave their homes as temperatures were forecast to reach a high of
almost 40°C.
The
hot summer weather threatened to escalate fires that have been
burning for almost two weeks.
"The
local community has listened to the best of advice and will leave
their homes because on such a challenging day, with that fire still
active, so close to them, it's not safe for them nor is it safe for
those who have been called on to protect them," Victoria state
Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters.
The
fires were started by a lightning strike on 19 December and continue
to burn and spread. The Country Fire Authority estimates the blazes
have burnt out more than 2500ha of and.
Authorities
estimate 116 homes were destroyed by the fires on Christmas Day.
The
Country Fire Service said a fire burning in stubble on South
Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula is causing a risk to lives and around
15 houses in the Kokoda Hill area.
Once
the immediate threat has passed, some relief could be on the horizon
for residents with temperatures forecast to drop in the coming days.
Isolated showers are also predicted for some parts of the southern
coast.
The
Great Ocean Road is one of Australia's biggest tourist draws with its
spectacular scenery and unusual offshore rock formations. Parts of
the road remained closed to traffic on Thursday during what is
typically one of its busiest times of the year.
In
2009, Victoria witnessed Australia's worst-ever bushfire disaster,
with 173 people killed in what has been dubbed "Black Saturday".
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