‘Catastrophic’ conditions as bushfires rage in Australia
A scorching heatwave intensified bushfires ravaging parts of Australia yesterday, and out-of-control blazes surrounding Sydney worsened under “catastrophic” conditions.
Australia’s eastern coast has been hit by a record-breaking heatwave, which has moved in from the west of the country, fanning hundreds of fires in its path.
Sydney was shrouded in toxic smoke as blazes flared to its north, south and west, some just 130 kilometres (80 miles) from Australia’s largest city.
“Today has been an awful day,” New South Wales sate fire commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said yesterday afternoon.
Temperatures were expected to peak at 47 degrees Celsius (116 Fahrenheit) in parts of the state -- the country’s most populous -- including in parts of west Sydney.
Australia endures bushfires every year but the early and intense start to this season, along with the record temperatures, has fuelled concerns about global warming.
The fires have torched at least three million hectares (7.4 million acres) of land -- an area equivalent to the size of Belgium -- with at least 10 people killed and more than 800 homes destroyed.
Two massive blazes south of Sydney generated their own thunderstorms, fire authorities said, with a “mega fire” burning to the north also threatening the dangerous phenomena.
In the state of South Australia, which in the past few days has borne the brunt of the heat wave, more than 1,500 firefighters have been battling fires that ripped through more than 40,000 hectares. Two people died in fires there over the past two days, and dozens of firefighters and residents have been treated for injuries and smoke inhalation.
Emergency crews were also on alert in the southern state of Victoria, where fires were burning following days of scorching temperatures.
Leading doctors have warned of a “public health emergency” given the unprecedented toxic smoke choking Sydney, which worsened to a dense haze yesterday evening. Hospitals have been recording sharp increases in emergency room visits for heat exhaustion and respiratory problems.
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