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| Australia fires: Travel warnings issued over 'catastrophic' conditions | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Catastrophic fire warnings are in place across the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), where firefighters are tackling more than 100 blazes. | Catastrophic fire warnings are in place across the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), where firefighters are tackling more than 100 blazes. |
| Authorities have urged Christmas travellers to delay their journeys as conditions threaten to intensify the bushfire crisis. | Authorities have urged Christmas travellers to delay their journeys as conditions threaten to intensify the bushfire crisis. |
| Rising temperatures and strong winds worsened fires across three states on Saturday. | Rising temperatures and strong winds worsened fires across three states on Saturday. |
| Three blazes around Sydney are burning at emergency level. | Three blazes around Sydney are burning at emergency level. |
| "We are asking everybody not to travel on roads anywhere near the vicinity of an active fire unless you absolutely have to," Gladys Berejiklian, premier of NSW, said at a news conference. | "We are asking everybody not to travel on roads anywhere near the vicinity of an active fire unless you absolutely have to," Gladys Berejiklian, premier of NSW, said at a news conference. |
| A combination of temperatures above 40C, low humidity and strong winds have worsened the struggle for the almost 10,000 emergency personnel mobilised to deal with the bushfires in NSW. | A combination of temperatures above 40C, low humidity and strong winds have worsened the struggle for the almost 10,000 emergency personnel mobilised to deal with the bushfires in NSW. |
| "We are in a period of unbelievable drought and some areas haven't seen rain for more than 12 months", NSW Rural Fire Services Inspector Ben Shepherd told the BBC. | "We are in a period of unbelievable drought and some areas haven't seen rain for more than 12 months", NSW Rural Fire Services Inspector Ben Shepherd told the BBC. |
| "These fires are likely to continue to spread well past Christmas", he added. | "These fires are likely to continue to spread well past Christmas", he added. |
| Two volunteer firefighters died on Thursday as they were tackling a large blaze near Sydney. Fires have also been ravaging the states of Victoria and South Australia, where two civilians died on Friday. | Two volunteer firefighters died on Thursday as they were tackling a large blaze near Sydney. Fires have also been ravaging the states of Victoria and South Australia, where two civilians died on Friday. |
| Since September, Australia's bushfire emergency has killed eight people, destroyed more than 700 houses and scorched millions of hectares. | Since September, Australia's bushfire emergency has killed eight people, destroyed more than 700 houses and scorched millions of hectares. |
| What travel warnings have been issued? | What travel warnings have been issued? |
| The states of NSW and and South Australia are the focus of the travel warnings. | The states of NSW and and South Australia are the focus of the travel warnings. |
| In NSW, several major roads and highways have been closed, including a section of the Princes Highway. | In NSW, several major roads and highways have been closed, including a section of the Princes Highway. |
| As of 16:30 (05:12 GMT), 24 roads and highways in NSW were affected by fire, according to a government website. | As of 16:30 (05:12 GMT), 24 roads and highways in NSW were affected by fire, according to a government website. |
| Roads have been closed in South Australia as well, with residents asked to monitor the government traffic website for updates. | Roads have been closed in South Australia as well, with residents asked to monitor the government traffic website for updates. |
| "If members of the public attempt to enter the areas, they will be turned away, regardless of being property owners or business owners, due to specific safety reasons," a police official said. | "If members of the public attempt to enter the areas, they will be turned away, regardless of being property owners or business owners, due to specific safety reasons," a police official said. |
| Who are the victims? | Who are the victims? |
| Tributes have been paid to firefighters Geoffrey Keaton, 32, and Andrew O'Dwyer, 36, who died when their truck was hit by a falling tree near a fire front, causing it to roll off the road. | Tributes have been paid to firefighters Geoffrey Keaton, 32, and Andrew O'Dwyer, 36, who died when their truck was hit by a falling tree near a fire front, causing it to roll off the road. |
| Three other firefighters who were also in the vehicle survived with minor injuries. | Three other firefighters who were also in the vehicle survived with minor injuries. |
| NSW fire commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said firefighters everywhere were grieving over the "huge loss" of the two young fathers, who were caught up in "the worst imaginable set of circumstances". | NSW fire commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said firefighters everywhere were grieving over the "huge loss" of the two young fathers, who were caught up in "the worst imaginable set of circumstances". |
| "[They] simply went out, doing a remarkable job, like all their colleagues, and like they have done year-in, year-out, and to not be coming home after their shift is a tremendous grief," he said. | "[They] simply went out, doing a remarkable job, like all their colleagues, and like they have done year-in, year-out, and to not be coming home after their shift is a tremendous grief," he said. |
| South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said a person had been killed in Murraylands, when the car they were driving hit a tree. Another person died in the Charleston area of the Adelaide Hills, authorities said. | South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said a person had been killed in Murraylands, when the car they were driving hit a tree. Another person died in the Charleston area of the Adelaide Hills, authorities said. |
| Why is Morrison facing pressure on climate change? | Why is Morrison facing pressure on climate change? |
| Many Australians have accused Prime Minister Scott Morrison's government of inaction on climate change. | Many Australians have accused Prime Minister Scott Morrison's government of inaction on climate change. |
| Last year, the UN reported that Australia was not on track to meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement - the global deal to tackle rising global temperatures. | Last year, the UN reported that Australia was not on track to meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement - the global deal to tackle rising global temperatures. |
| Mr Morrison has faced criticism for going on holiday despite the severity of the bushfires. | Mr Morrison has faced criticism for going on holiday despite the severity of the bushfires. |
| Firefighters' union leader Leighton Drury said Australia was "seeing an absolute lack of leadership from this government and it is a disgrace". | Firefighters' union leader Leighton Drury said Australia was "seeing an absolute lack of leadership from this government and it is a disgrace". |
| Criticism grew as a heatwave broke records across the country and exacerbated mammoth blazes, making the task even harder for exhausted firefighters - many of them volunteers. | Criticism grew as a heatwave broke records across the country and exacerbated mammoth blazes, making the task even harder for exhausted firefighters - many of them volunteers. |
| In a statement, Mr Morrison apologised and said he would be "returning to Sydney as soon as can be arranged". | In a statement, Mr Morrison apologised and said he would be "returning to Sydney as soon as can be arranged". |
| Meanwhile, acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack has acknowledged that further action must be taken to combat climate change but said there was "a lot of hysteria" surrounding the issue. | Meanwhile, acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack has acknowledged that further action must be taken to combat climate change but said there was "a lot of hysteria" surrounding the issue. |
| "Climate change is not the only factor that has caused these fires. There has been dry lightning strikes, there has been self-combusting piles of manure, there has been a lot of arsonists out there causing fire", he said. | "Climate change is not the only factor that has caused these fires. There has been dry lightning strikes, there has been self-combusting piles of manure, there has been a lot of arsonists out there causing fire", he said. |
| Although climate change is not the direct cause of bushfires, scientists have long warned that a hotter, drier climate would contribute to Australia's fires becoming more frequent and more intense. | Although climate change is not the direct cause of bushfires, scientists have long warned that a hotter, drier climate would contribute to Australia's fires becoming more frequent and more intense. |
| Are you in the affected region? If it is safe to do so, email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the affected region? If it is safe to do so, email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |