Australia has issued “catastrophic” alerts after record-breaking temperatures and lightning storms sparked more than 100 fires across the country, officials said yesterday.
Unseasonably hot and dry weather combined with strong winds to fan scores of blazes in the country’s southeastern states, many of which were sparked by overnight lightning strikes.
“It has never been this hot, dry or windy in combination in November ever before,” New South Wales Premier Nathan Rees said.
A massive fire was threatening homes in the New South Wales town of Rylstone, west of Sydney, and residents were warned to evacuate or prepare to fight the flames, the Rural Fire Service (RFS) said.
Three homes were razed on Friday night at the beachside town of Dolphin Sands in Tasmania, Australia’s southernmost state. There were also smaller outbreaks in South Australia and Victoria states, but conditions there had eased.
Across New South Wales five major blazes were raging out of control and RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said crews were racing against time to contain the flames ahead of a forecast worsening in conditions.
More than one-third of the state was under a Code Red or Catastrophic fire alert, in which residents cannot be forcibly evacuated but are strongly advised to abandon their property due to extreme risk of death or injury.
A total fire ban was issued for much of New South Wales for yesterday, including in Sydney, the country’s most populous city, meaning people will not be allowed to burn rubbish or have barbecues due to the high risk.
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