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Australia fires: Thousands told to evacuate in Victoria Australia fires: Thousands told to evacuate in Victoria
(about 7 hours later)
Tens of thousands of residents and holidaymakers in the Australian state of Victoria have been told to evacuate amid worsening bushfire conditions. Soaring temperatures and strong winds have sparked new fires in the Australian state of Victoria, where tens of thousands of people were urged to flee.
Temperatures of over 40C (104F), strong winds, thunderstorms and a change of wind direction meant Monday would be a day of extreme danger, officials said. Many tourists have heeded warnings to leave the East Gippsland holiday region - but others remain.
Emergencies chief Andrew Crisp said those in the East Gippsland area should leave no later than Monday morning. The worsening weather started blazes and fanned existing ones across the nation's south-east on Monday.
More than 100 fires are continuing to burn across Australia. Crews across four states were bracing for a day of extreme fire danger.
The biggest are raging near the city of Sydney in New South Wales, where more than a quarter of a million people have signed a petition calling for the New Year's Eve fireworks to be cancelled and the money spent on fighting fires. More than 100 blazes continue to rage across Australia.
Extreme fire warnings have been issued for the states of Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales (NSW) and Tasmania.
Some of the largest blazes are raging near the city of Sydney in NSW, where more than a quarter of a million people have signed a petition calling for the New Year's Eve fireworks to be cancelled and the money spent on fighting fires.
What are the risks in Victoria?What are the risks in Victoria?
In East Gippsland, three fires burning near the towns of Bruthen, Buchan and Bonang were forecast to grow significantly. In the East Gippsland region, three fires burning near the towns of Bruthen, Buchan and Bonang were forecast to grow as temperatures pass 40C (104F).
Officials said they could burn towards the coast, potentially crossing and cutting off the region's main road. A strong wind change was predicted to drive them towards the coast, potentially crossing and cutting off the region's main road.
An estimated 30,000 people are currently holidaying in the threatened area, according to ABC News. A fire which started on Sunday near the Princes Highway forced the road's closure for a few hours.
Mr Crisp, Victoria's state emergency management commissioner, said anyone in the area to the east of Bairnsdale - about 280km (175 miles) east of Melbourne - should move. Andrew Crisp, Victoria's state emergency management commissioner, said anyone in the area to the east of Bairnsdale - about 280km (175 miles) east of Melbourne - should move.
"What we are saying now, based on the conditions that will be confronting us tomorrow across the state, but in particular in East Gippsland, is that if you're holidaying in that part of the state, it's time that you left," he said. He had warned people to evacuate by Monday morning or "there is every chance you won't be able to leave".
It was no longer possible to provide assistance to all the visitors in the East Gippsland region, emergency authorities said. "The state is dry and it is going to be very hot and windy. People, get out now. If you don't, you have got to stay across the conditions and listen to the warnings during the day," he said.
Extreme fire warnings were in place across most of Victoria. Any lightning strikes in dry, drought-affected forests had the potential to quickly become fires that threaten lives and homes, officials said. Authorities have reported instances of extreme fire activity in the state - such as blazes so massive they generate their own weather and thunderstorms.
A major music festival in the state has also been cancelled, with organisers saying it was too dangerous for the popular Falls New Year's Eve festival in Lorne, about 140km south-west of Melbourne, to go ahead. Any lightning strikes in dry, drought-affected forests have the potential to quickly become fires that threaten lives and homes, officials said.
Some 9,000 people were already camping on the festival site, which is accessed by a single track, meaning that it would not be possible for festivalgoers to evacuate quickly in an emergency. A major New Year's Eve music festival in the state has also been cancelled, with organisers saying it was too dangerous for the Falls Festival in Lorne, about 140km south-west of Melbourne, to go ahead.
Some 9,000 people were already camping on the festival site, which is accessed by a single track, meaning that it would not be possible for festival-goers to evacuate quickly.
"We are gutted to make this call but the safety of our patrons, artists and staff is our main priority," said organiser Jessica Ducrou."We are gutted to make this call but the safety of our patrons, artists and staff is our main priority," said organiser Jessica Ducrou.
What about New South Wales? What about the other states?
Temperatures are also expected to pass 40C in other bushfire-affected states including New South Wales and South Australia. In South Australia, crews are battling "catastrophic" fire conditions in a wine region north-east of the city of Adelaide.
New South Wales is the worst-affected state, with nearly 100 fires burning. Conditions there were expected to worsen into Tuesday. The island state of Tasmania is also bracing for dangerous fires to break out amid a sweltering heatwave.
More than 100 blazes continue to burn in NSW, the state worst-affected by the fires so far this year.
Temperatures were forecast to hit 40C in Sydney on Monday, and go even higher in inland towns.
"We've got some deteriorating weather conditions over the coming days, particularly Monday and worsening through to Tuesday," said the NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons."We've got some deteriorating weather conditions over the coming days, particularly Monday and worsening through to Tuesday," said the NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons.
The town of Balmoral, south-west of Sydney, was largely destroyed on 22 December and major roads south of the city have been closed. The town of Balmoral, south-west of Sydney, was largely destroyed on 22 December and major roads leading out of the city have been closed at various points.
The fires have destroyed four million hectares (9.9m acres) in five states since September. At least eight deaths have been linked to the fires.
With total fire ban restrictions in place, several regions have cancelled their New Year's Eve fireworks including the Australian Capital Territory, where the nation's capital city Canberra is located.
However in Sydney, authorities say the city's harbour fireworks display - watched by millions around the world - will go ahead despite criticism.
NSW's deputy premier broke ranks with the rest of the state government on Monday when he said cancelling the fireworks should be a "very easy decision".
"If regional areas have had fireworks banned, then let's not have two classes of citizens," said John Barilaro. "We're all in this crisis together."
Yet the city's authorities say the cancellation would have little practical effect on affected communities.
Details for a bushfire relief fund are to be projected on the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the night.
On Saturday Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that volunteer firefighters in New South Wales would get compensation for loss of earnings after spending time away from jobs to battle bushfires.On Saturday Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that volunteer firefighters in New South Wales would get compensation for loss of earnings after spending time away from jobs to battle bushfires.
The fires have destroyed 4m hectares (9.9m acres) in five states since September. At least eight deaths have been linked to the fires.
Have you been told to evacuate? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Have you been told to evacuate? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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