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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Massive bushfire destroys Western Australia town | Massive bushfire destroys Western Australia town |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| About 95 homes have been destroyed after a bushfire ripped through a Western Australian town. | About 95 homes have been destroyed after a bushfire ripped through a Western Australian town. |
| Three people are unaccounted for and one-third of the historic town of Yarloop, south of Perth, has been razed, authorities said. | Three people are unaccounted for and one-third of the historic town of Yarloop, south of Perth, has been razed, authorities said. |
| Wind gusts of up to 60km/h (37 m/ph) overnight fanned the blaze, dubbed the Waroona fire, to heights of 50m. | Wind gusts of up to 60km/h (37 m/ph) overnight fanned the blaze, dubbed the Waroona fire, to heights of 50m. |
| The fire continues to threaten towns and strong winds today are expected to again make conditions difficult. | The fire continues to threaten towns and strong winds today are expected to again make conditions difficult. |
| Follow the latest updates on the bushfire here | |
| Western Australia Fire Commissioner Wayne Gregson told a press conference that the fire in Yarloop was too intense to be tackled head-on. | Western Australia Fire Commissioner Wayne Gregson told a press conference that the fire in Yarloop was too intense to be tackled head-on. |
| He said that four firefighters were injured battling the blaze and one fire truck was destroyed. | He said that four firefighters were injured battling the blaze and one fire truck was destroyed. |
| The fire has now burned through more than 50,000 hectares (500 sq km) and is threatening towns including Harvey and Preston Beach. | The fire has now burned through more than 50,000 hectares (500 sq km) and is threatening towns including Harvey and Preston Beach. |
| 'Could be the end' | 'Could be the end' |
| A large thunderstorm hit the town of Pinjarra to the north of the fire zone at about 10:00 local time (02:00 GMT). | |
| Reports said lightning struck an evacuation centre in the town, injuring a man in his 50s and cutting power. | |
| The storm was understood to be heading towards the fire zone - a downpour of rain could ease conditions, but lightning strikes could also spark further fires. | |
| Local politician Murray Cowper told the BBC that the loss of property was "significant". | Local politician Murray Cowper told the BBC that the loss of property was "significant". |
| He said firefighters told him the town's pub, bowling club and historic timber workshops had been destroyed. | He said firefighters told him the town's pub, bowling club and historic timber workshops had been destroyed. |
| "You've got seasoned firefighters who've been around for many years saying they've never seen anything like it," Mr Cowper said. | "You've got seasoned firefighters who've been around for many years saying they've never seen anything like it," Mr Cowper said. |
| "A big fireball came through and there was no way they were going to stop it. | "A big fireball came through and there was no way they were going to stop it. |
| "This could well be the end of the town." | "This could well be the end of the town." |
| Yarloop resident Alex Govanovich to the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that the fire was "crazy - one fireball after another". | Yarloop resident Alex Govanovich to the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that the fire was "crazy - one fireball after another". |
| "The wind, it was that frigging strong. It's devastating." | "The wind, it was that frigging strong. It's devastating." |
| A Bureau of Meteorology spokesman said conditions were "very tricky", with wind gusts of up to 60km/h expected again today. | A Bureau of Meteorology spokesman said conditions were "very tricky", with wind gusts of up to 60km/h expected again today. |
| Thunderstorms and sea breezes could add further unpredictability to the situation if they rapidly pushed the fire in new directions. | Thunderstorms and sea breezes could add further unpredictability to the situation if they rapidly pushed the fire in new directions. |
| Thunderstorm systems could also be generated within the fire itself, the spokesman said. | Thunderstorm systems could also be generated within the fire itself, the spokesman said. |
| What to do in a bushfire emergency | What to do in a bushfire emergency |
| For comprehensive advice see Western Australia's Department of Fire and Emergency Services' list of bushfire tips. | For comprehensive advice see Western Australia's Department of Fire and Emergency Services' list of bushfire tips. |