Multiple fires closed in on tinder-dry rural settlements and picturesque coastal holiday spots throughout New South Wales, but a temperature drop last night gave firefighters hope for a respite.
Battles were going on in other southern states, but remarkably no deaths had been reported last night.
However, about 100 residents were still unaccounted for in the Tasmanian town of Dunalley, east of the state capital of Hobart, after a blaze destroyed about 90 homes. A preliminary search of more than 550 houses yesterday found no trace of the missing.
More than 1400 firefighters were engaged in an exhausting bid to contain more than 140 fires in NSW that by evening had destroyed more than 55,000 hectares of land.
Four of the firefighters had been injured, but their conditions were unknown.
After a day of intense heat the temperatures began to fall by 5pm (7pm NZT), but 40 fires were still out of control.
A major concern was a bushfire at Deans Gap southeast of Sydney that was bearing down on the coast at Shoalhaven - a magnet for holidaymakers.
No comments:
Post a Comment