Post by Andrei Tchentchik on Mar 2, 2020 18:14:46 GMT 2
(.#A.052).- Forest fires in Australia - State of emergency in New South Wales. Jan. 3, 2020.
Forest fires in Australia - State of emergency in New South Wales.
Photo: Sean Davey Agence France-Presse
The town of Cobargo, in New South Wales, was devastated by forest fires on Tuesday. Thousands of tourists and locals had to find refuge on New Years Eve on the beaches to escape the destructive element.
Holly Robertson - Agence France-Presse in Sydney
January 3, 2020
Australia on Thursday ordered the evacuation of tourists and residents from the country's southeast coastline in anticipation of a new heat peak expected on Saturday, which is favorable to the progression of the deadly fires.
Uncontrolled fires ravaged the southeast of the country on New Years Eve, killing at least eight people.
Gladys Berejiklian, Premier of New South Wales, declared a seven-day state of emergency on Thursday that will allow forced evacuations starting Friday.
This is the third time that a state of emergency has been declared in Australia’s most populous state since the start of the fire season in September.
"We don't take these kinds of decisions lightly, but we want to make sure that all the necessary steps are taken to prepare for what could be a horrible Saturday," she added.
The announcement comes after New South Wales firefighters asked tourists to leave a 300-kilometer-long stretch of coastline from the town of Nowra (160 km south of Sydney) to the state. from Victoria.
Residents and vacationers in two inland areas, including the touristy Snowy Mountains, between Canberra and Sydney, were urged to leave.
Black day
People must leave before Saturday, a dark day on the fire front with sustained gusts of wind and expected temperatures above 40 ° C.
This day could be worse than Tuesday, the deadliest since the start of the crisis.
At least 18 people have died since the start of the fire season in September.
The death toll could be further compounded, authorities in Victoria said Thursday that 17 people are missing on its territory.
Many tourists have spent two isolated nights in areas with no electricity or communications, with meager food supplies.
The evacuation will be "the largest ever in the region," New South Wales Minister of Transport Andrew Constance said on ABC.
Long lines of cars spanned miles of roads to Sydney and Canberra on Thursday. A driver said it took more than 3 hours to travel just 50 kilometers.
State fire department deputy director Rob Rogers added that firefighters were unable to extinguish or even control the fires in progress.
"There are so many fires in this area that we are unable to contain" the disaster, he told ABC. "We just have to make sure there is no one left in their way."
John Steele, 73, who lives near Merimbula on the south coast, said some people were "panicking" because of the calls to evacuate.
More than 400 homes have been destroyed in the past few days, a number that is expected to increase as firefighters reach the most remote hamlets.
The army as reinforcement
Military ships and aircraft have been deployed, along with emergency personnel, to deliver humanitarian aid and assess the damage in the most remote areas.
Two ships arrived Thursday morning in the seaside town of Mallacoota, where people took refuge on the beach on Tuesday to escape the flames that reached the city.
Up to 4000 people are expected to be evacuated at first. These operations could last several weeks, according to officials.
Commander Doug Laidlaw, of the Victoria State Firefighting Force, said the first people are expected to arrive on the ships Friday morning. Children, the sick and the elderly have priority.
Since the start of the fire season, more than 1,300 homes have been reduced to ashes and 5.5 million hectares have gone up in smoke, an area larger than a country like Denmark or the Netherlands.
A “sensible” climate policy
This unprecedented crisis has sparked demonstrations calling on the government to take immediate action against global warming, which scientists say is behind the fires that are earlier, longer and more violent than ever.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has renewed his support for the lucrative but highly polluting Australian coal industry, is widely criticized.
On Thursday, he gave his first press conference since the resumption of the fires and defended his policy on climate change, which he described as "sensible".
F I N .
Forest fires in Australia - State of emergency in New South Wales.
Photo: Sean Davey Agence France-Presse
The town of Cobargo, in New South Wales, was devastated by forest fires on Tuesday. Thousands of tourists and locals had to find refuge on New Years Eve on the beaches to escape the destructive element.
Holly Robertson - Agence France-Presse in Sydney
January 3, 2020
Australia on Thursday ordered the evacuation of tourists and residents from the country's southeast coastline in anticipation of a new heat peak expected on Saturday, which is favorable to the progression of the deadly fires.
Uncontrolled fires ravaged the southeast of the country on New Years Eve, killing at least eight people.
Gladys Berejiklian, Premier of New South Wales, declared a seven-day state of emergency on Thursday that will allow forced evacuations starting Friday.
This is the third time that a state of emergency has been declared in Australia’s most populous state since the start of the fire season in September.
"We don't take these kinds of decisions lightly, but we want to make sure that all the necessary steps are taken to prepare for what could be a horrible Saturday," she added.
The announcement comes after New South Wales firefighters asked tourists to leave a 300-kilometer-long stretch of coastline from the town of Nowra (160 km south of Sydney) to the state. from Victoria.
Residents and vacationers in two inland areas, including the touristy Snowy Mountains, between Canberra and Sydney, were urged to leave.
Black day
People must leave before Saturday, a dark day on the fire front with sustained gusts of wind and expected temperatures above 40 ° C.
This day could be worse than Tuesday, the deadliest since the start of the crisis.
At least 18 people have died since the start of the fire season in September.
The death toll could be further compounded, authorities in Victoria said Thursday that 17 people are missing on its territory.
Many tourists have spent two isolated nights in areas with no electricity or communications, with meager food supplies.
The evacuation will be "the largest ever in the region," New South Wales Minister of Transport Andrew Constance said on ABC.
Long lines of cars spanned miles of roads to Sydney and Canberra on Thursday. A driver said it took more than 3 hours to travel just 50 kilometers.
State fire department deputy director Rob Rogers added that firefighters were unable to extinguish or even control the fires in progress.
"There are so many fires in this area that we are unable to contain" the disaster, he told ABC. "We just have to make sure there is no one left in their way."
John Steele, 73, who lives near Merimbula on the south coast, said some people were "panicking" because of the calls to evacuate.
More than 400 homes have been destroyed in the past few days, a number that is expected to increase as firefighters reach the most remote hamlets.
The army as reinforcement
Military ships and aircraft have been deployed, along with emergency personnel, to deliver humanitarian aid and assess the damage in the most remote areas.
Two ships arrived Thursday morning in the seaside town of Mallacoota, where people took refuge on the beach on Tuesday to escape the flames that reached the city.
Up to 4000 people are expected to be evacuated at first. These operations could last several weeks, according to officials.
Commander Doug Laidlaw, of the Victoria State Firefighting Force, said the first people are expected to arrive on the ships Friday morning. Children, the sick and the elderly have priority.
Since the start of the fire season, more than 1,300 homes have been reduced to ashes and 5.5 million hectares have gone up in smoke, an area larger than a country like Denmark or the Netherlands.
A “sensible” climate policy
This unprecedented crisis has sparked demonstrations calling on the government to take immediate action against global warming, which scientists say is behind the fires that are earlier, longer and more violent than ever.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has renewed his support for the lucrative but highly polluting Australian coal industry, is widely criticized.
On Thursday, he gave his first press conference since the resumption of the fires and defended his policy on climate change, which he described as "sensible".
F I N .
