Wild bushfires in Australia have accounted for two more lives as the infernos raged dangerously out of control. The deaths were recorded in South Australia.
The two people died on Kangaroo Island, a popular holiday spot not far off the coast; taking the national toll from this week’s fires to 12. Twenty-one people remain unaccounted for in Victoria, down from 28 reported on Friday.
Equally important, the fires were fueled by soaring temperatures and strong winds; that had firefighters battling to save lives and property.
Authorities have said conditions could be worse than New Year’s Eve on Tuesday. Then, fires burnt massive tracts of bushland and forced thousands of residents/summer holidaymakers to seek refuge on beaches.
Meanwhile, the Australian government has announced an unprecedented call up of army reservists to support firefighters; as well other resources including a third navy ship equipped for disaster and humanitarian relief.
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“Conditions beginning to deteriorate quickly on NSW southern firegrounds,” the Bureau of Meteorology said in a tweet.
“Heat and wind are building which is increasing fire activity.”
More than 130 fires were burning in NSW on Saturday, many out of control; and in Victoria there were evacuation recommendations for six fires; emergency warnings for 11 others and dozens more still burning.
“There are a number of large and dangerous fires burning across NSW that pose a serious threat to life,” the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) told Reuters.
In Victoria, authorities had urged people in areas covered by a state of disaster declaration to evacuate. Further, it said that tens of thousands of the estimated 100,000 population had left for safety.
