Mega heat and winds

“Monster fire” in Australia: thousands on the run

A huge bush fire is currently raging in the Australian state of Victoria. Due to the extremely high temperatures and strong winds currently prevailing there, the fire-fighting work is proving extremely difficult.

The residents of almost 30 communities have been urged to seek immediate safety from the out-of-control fire, the news agency AAP reported on Thursday, citing the emergency services.

The broadcaster "9News" spoke of a "monster fire" that was rapidly approaching the suburbs of the city of Ballarat, which lies around 120 kilometers northwest of the metropolis of Melbourne. Around 1000 firefighters were deployed to fight the flames, it said. However, extremely high temperatures and strong winds made the extinguishing work more difficult. "The fire situation will get worse before it gets better," warned fire chief Jason Heffernan.

Tasmania also affected
Firefighters on the island of Tasmania also battled several fires in the extreme heat, for example in the Bradys Lake area in the Central Highlands. An emergency warning was issued for the community of Dee and the surrounding area. Around 20 aircraft and dozens of firefighters tried to bring the fire under control.