Australia fires: New South Wales declares week-long state of emergency

News Bharati    02-Jan-2020 20:51:21 PM
Total Views |

Sydney, January 2: Australian state of New South Wales, a week-long state of emergency has been declared in response to the escalating bushfire threat. High temperatures and strong winds are forecast for the weekend, leading to widespread extreme fire danger in the eastern Australian state.


1_1  H x W: 0 x 

Since September, last year, bushfires have killed 18 people and destroyed more than 1,200 homes across New South Wales and Victoria. At least 17 people remain missing after fires this week alone.

Thousands of people are already fleeing New South Wales with supplies running low in some cut-off towns. It's been called the largest relocation out of the region ever.

They instructed tourists in the area, which is popular during the summer holidays, to leave, adding: "Do not be in this area on Saturday". The warning prompted a rush to escape the zone, which includes the towns of Narooma and Bega.

Transport minister Andrew Constance described the situation as the "largest mass relocation of people out of the region that we've ever seen".

A seven-day state of emergency has been declared in New South Wales starting on Friday, giving the Fire Service commissioner more control and power.