Australia’s nightmare start to the New Year is continuing to get even worse as numerous out-of-control bushfires leave death and destruction in their wake.
Authorities fear that hot, gusty winds across south-eastern Australia could render some blazes unstoppable.
As the death toll from the unfolding tragedy continues to rise, South Australian Premier Steven Marshall has recently confirmed that two people have died in the bushfires on Kangaroo Island. The fire has burnt up to 150,000 hectares, including most of Flinders Chase National Park.
The ABC reports that in New South Wales, emergency warning have already gone out for several communities which are being beset by bushfires, and a stretch of the Princes Highway south of Nowra has been closed.
Further south, six evacuation notices and about a dozen emergency warnings have been issued as bushfires threaten communities in Victoria’s north-east and east. Devastating fires are also sweeping across parts of Tasmania and Western Australia.
The ABC reports that there are concerns that the weather front sweeping the region could result in dry lightning strikes, starting new fires across parts of New South Wales and Victoria that have not already been devastated over recent days.
Temperatures in parts of each state have already climbed into the 40s, with Albury-Wodonga reaching 45 degrees Celsius.
Grey nomads and other travellers are being hugely affected by the chaos around the country as they seek both to stay safe and to ensure they don’t in any way distract from the firefighting effort.
Sandra and Jim Thompson from Cessnock were camping at a Murray Valley caravan park when the looming bushfire threat forced their evacuation.
“We started out at 7am yesterday and when we reached Milton, the roads were closed until 3am on Friday … the traffic was bumper-to-bumper,” Mr Thompson told the Goulburn Post. “We are safe here now at the caravan park but we were stuck there for quite a while … we found it hard enough to get out when we did, it took us hours to get through Batemans Bay.”
South Goulburn Caravan Park manager, Naomi, said more and both travellers and people fleeing their fire-threatened homes were coming in to take shelter.
“People have been coming in here and are very scared … they are losing their homes and animals she told the Post. “The traffic is very slow, it’s bumper-to-bumper and it’s taking them a long time to get in here. I have been checking in people who have been travelling all night. We are full right now.”
Tourism Australia has urged all travellers to seek the most up to date information prior to departure, and remain informed about changing conditions whilst on the ground.
The Australian Government’s Bureau of Meteorology provides overall weather updates for all parts of Australia, including the latest fire warnings: http://www.bom.gov.au/.
“For specific advice, updates are available from the Rural Fire Service, National Parks and relevant State or Territory emergency services,” said Phillipa Harrison, Managing Director, Tourism Australia. “Travellers are also encouraged to speak with local tourism operators and staff at local Visitor Information Centres for advice about local conditions.”
For more information
New South Wales: www.rfs.nsw.gov.au
Victoria: www.cfa.vic.gov.au
Tasmania: www.fire.tas.gov.au
Australian Capital Territory: www.esa.act.gov.au
Northern Territory: www.pfes.nt.gov.au
Queensland: www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au
South Australia: www.cfs.org.au
Western Australia: www.emergency.wa.gov.au and www.fesa.wa.gov.au
Donations
There are a number of organisations accepting donations to the bushfire disaster appeal, including the Salvos.
