Victoria state in Australia is currently facing a serious bushfire threat, leading to hundreds of residents being urged to evacuate their properties immediately. The fires have destroyed several properties and killed livestock, posing a danger to rural towns.
Emergency evacuation orders were issued on Thursday, prompting more than 2,000 people from towns in Victoria’s west to flee to the nearby regional hub of Ballarat, located 95 km (59 miles) west of Melbourne. These orders were aimed at ensuring the safety of residents.
Hundreds of firefighters, supported by several aircraft, are fighting the massive blaze as fresh evacuation warnings cover 14 rural towns. The damage caused by the fires currently spans roughly 10,000 hectares (100 square kilometers), making it a significant threat.
The spread of the fires has been accelerated by stronger-than-expected winds, forcing emergency crews to urge residents to seek shelter indoors if they are unable to leave their homes. Jason Heffernan, chief officer of Victoria state fire department, stated that fire conditions would remain volatile and that there were reports of home and shed losses, as well as stock and fencing losses.
Emergency crews have planned to begin assessing the damages resulting from the fires starting Friday morning, in order to accurately gauge the situation and provide necessary support to the affected areas.
According to a weather bureau forecast, a cold front off Australia’s south coast is expected to move to the regions where the bushfires are raging, thereby pushing temperatures down on Friday. This could potentially bring some relief to the affected areas.
The situation is being closely monitored, and steps are being taken to mitigate the impact of the bushfires on the residents and properties within the vulnerable areas.
Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney. Editing by Matthew Lewis.
