Post by Andrei Tchentchik on Mar 2, 2020 18:13:41 GMT 2
(.#A.051).- Australia - Fires are approaching Melbourne. Dec. 31, 2019.
Australia - Fires are approaching Melbourne. Dec. 31, 2019.
About 100,000 people were asked to flee five suburbs of Melbourne last night due to the fires when a volunteer firefighter died and two others were burned while responding to the state of New South Wales, firefighters said. This is the third volunteer firefighter killed since September 2019. Authorities in Melbourne, Australia's second largest city, have urged residents to move away from the fire that has already burned 40 hectares of grassland. In Bundoora, a town 16 km north of central Melbourne and home to two major university campuses, the spread of fire towards homes has been temporarily stopped, but is still not under control, said Victoria Emergency, a service of this southeastern state
Australian media have released footage of water bombers flying over suburbs and families hosing down homes using pipes in hopes of stopping the fire. In total, 11 people have died since the start - in September 2019 - of fires that have destroyed more than a thousand houses and more than three million hectares, an area larger than Belgium.
A heat wave swept across the vast island continent on Monday, fueling these particularly early and devastating fires this year. Weather conditions worsened on Friday with rising temperatures and strong winds across the territory. In Western Australia, temperatures have reached 47 degrees. It has exceeded 40 degrees in all regions, especially on the Tasmanian island (south) with the usually temperate climate.
More than a dozen fires are raging in rural areas of the tourist region of East Gippsland, in the state of Victoria. Authorities said many of the 30,000 tourists visiting the area have responded to calls for evacuation.
Some of the fires were of such intensity that hundreds of firefighters were removed from the front stretching for a thousand kilometers. It was "dangerous" for them to stay in these forest areas, said Gippsland fire chief Ben Rankin, describing the situation as "very intense".
Authorities have warned that the fires could cut off the last main road still open in the region. Victoria State Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp warned residents and holidaymakers in the area that they may be trapped because it was "too late to leave" and his services could not help them.
"Catastrophic" conditions !!!
The neighboring state of South Australia, further west, is also experiencing "catastrophic" weather conditions. According to a state fire chief, Brenton Eden, lightning has already started several fires, notably on Kangaroo Island.
Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate further over the next two days in New South Wales, the hardest hit state with around 100 fires still active Monday morning including more than 40 uncontrolled.
Australia is used to forest fires in the southern summer, but this year was particularly early and violent. Researchers explain their severity by a combination of factors, including very low precipitation, record temperatures and strong winds. Many believe that global warming is contributing to these conditions.
Fireworks canceled in Canberra Sydney and other major Australian cities have been enveloped for weeks in a thick cloud of toxic fire smoke. The capital Canberra has canceled New Years fireworks due to a total ban on all fireworks throughout the Australian Capital Territory.
A petition with 270,000 signatures called for the cancellation of Sydney’s famous New Year’s fireworks. The authorities maintained him.
F I N .
Australia - Fires are approaching Melbourne. Dec. 31, 2019.
About 100,000 people were asked to flee five suburbs of Melbourne last night due to the fires when a volunteer firefighter died and two others were burned while responding to the state of New South Wales, firefighters said. This is the third volunteer firefighter killed since September 2019. Authorities in Melbourne, Australia's second largest city, have urged residents to move away from the fire that has already burned 40 hectares of grassland. In Bundoora, a town 16 km north of central Melbourne and home to two major university campuses, the spread of fire towards homes has been temporarily stopped, but is still not under control, said Victoria Emergency, a service of this southeastern state
Australian media have released footage of water bombers flying over suburbs and families hosing down homes using pipes in hopes of stopping the fire. In total, 11 people have died since the start - in September 2019 - of fires that have destroyed more than a thousand houses and more than three million hectares, an area larger than Belgium.
A heat wave swept across the vast island continent on Monday, fueling these particularly early and devastating fires this year. Weather conditions worsened on Friday with rising temperatures and strong winds across the territory. In Western Australia, temperatures have reached 47 degrees. It has exceeded 40 degrees in all regions, especially on the Tasmanian island (south) with the usually temperate climate.
More than a dozen fires are raging in rural areas of the tourist region of East Gippsland, in the state of Victoria. Authorities said many of the 30,000 tourists visiting the area have responded to calls for evacuation.
Some of the fires were of such intensity that hundreds of firefighters were removed from the front stretching for a thousand kilometers. It was "dangerous" for them to stay in these forest areas, said Gippsland fire chief Ben Rankin, describing the situation as "very intense".
Authorities have warned that the fires could cut off the last main road still open in the region. Victoria State Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp warned residents and holidaymakers in the area that they may be trapped because it was "too late to leave" and his services could not help them.
"Catastrophic" conditions !!!
The neighboring state of South Australia, further west, is also experiencing "catastrophic" weather conditions. According to a state fire chief, Brenton Eden, lightning has already started several fires, notably on Kangaroo Island.
Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate further over the next two days in New South Wales, the hardest hit state with around 100 fires still active Monday morning including more than 40 uncontrolled.
Australia is used to forest fires in the southern summer, but this year was particularly early and violent. Researchers explain their severity by a combination of factors, including very low precipitation, record temperatures and strong winds. Many believe that global warming is contributing to these conditions.
Fireworks canceled in Canberra Sydney and other major Australian cities have been enveloped for weeks in a thick cloud of toxic fire smoke. The capital Canberra has canceled New Years fireworks due to a total ban on all fireworks throughout the Australian Capital Territory.
A petition with 270,000 signatures called for the cancellation of Sydney’s famous New Year’s fireworks. The authorities maintained him.
F I N .
