ZCZC
BFF-47
AUSTRALIA-WEATHER-FIRE
Thousands evacuated as Australian bushfires rage
SYDNEY, Nov 28, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Thousands of people were being evacuated
from their homes in northeast Australia late Wednesday, as bushfires raged
across Queensland state amid a scorching heatwave.
Some 8,000 people were told to leave the town of Gracemere, south of the
central coast area of Rockhampton, as a fast-moving blaze threatened homes.
The Bureau of Meteorology declared a “catastrophic” fire danger — the
highest possible risk rating — in some central areas, while firefighters
battled to contain more than 130 blazes across the state.
“This is a very stressful situation for families. I need you to all be
strong. I need you to all listen. Your family and the protection of our
community is vital,” state premier Annastacia Palaszczuk warned those told to
leave.
“So we need to reach out to community members who are frail, who are
elderly, who have a disability. Please listen to authorities, it is going to
get a lot worse,” she added.
The Bureau of Meteorology said scorching temperatures had broken records
across Queensland, with the state capital Brisbane reaching 37.9 degrees
Celsius (100.2 degrees Fahrenheit).
At least 34 schools were closed, and authorities earlier in the day said
the number of homes destroyed was likely in “single digits” but it was too
early to confirm.
Other states were sending back up firefighters to Queensland.
“We will see more fires flare up very very quickly, so this is the start of
it,” Queensland fire and emergency services commissioner Katarina Carroll
warned those evacuating.
“It is very difficult to get a sense of how long people have in the area
because the winds are picking up faster than what was expected — so
evolving, but very, very quickly,” she added.
Resident Luana Royle from the central Queensland town of Finch Hatton told
national broadcaster ABC that the area had been hard-hit by the blaze.
“Our fires around here, you couldn’t even see 500 metres in front of you
this morning,” she said.
“Everyone is OK, but two houses have went, which is pretty sad.”
Australia is no stranger to extreme weather, experiencing flash floods,
sandstorms and even extreme drought in areas that are now being inundated.
South of Queensland, in the neighbouring state of New South Wales, Sydney
on Wednesday was hit by severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.
The local Bureau of Meteorology reported more than 106 millimetres of rain
in some places within a few hours.
Flights were cancelled, railway lines closed and motorists stranded on
flooded roads, as a month’s worth of rain fell there early Wednesday morning.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1818 hrs