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Australia fires: Thousands told to evacuate in Victoria Australia fires: Fires worsen as every Australian state hits 40C
(about 3 hours later)
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. Scores of fires are burning out of control across Australia amid a heatwave which has seen temperatures exceed 40C (104F) in every state.
Many tourists have heeded warnings to leave the East Gippsland holiday region - but others remain. On Monday, the most dangerous fires were in the state of Victoria.
The worsening weather started blazes and fanned existing ones across the nation's south-east on Monday. About 30,000 residents and tourists were urged to flee East Gippsland - a popular holiday region - but evacuations were later deemed too risky as fires encroached on major roads.
Crews across four states were bracing for a day of extreme fire danger. Nine people have died in the nation's bushfire crisis since September.
More than 100 blazes continue to rage across Australia. Victoria was worst-affected on Monday, as scorching temperatures, strong winds, and thunderstorms created dangerous conditions.
Extreme fire warnings have been issued for the states of Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales (NSW) and Tasmania. Emergency fire warnings were also issued for South Australia, New South Wales (NSW) and Tasmania on Monday.
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. In Sydney, NSW, 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? But the authorities have said they will go ahead as planned.
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). How bad are the blazes in Victoria?
A strong wind change was predicted to drive them towards the coast, potentially crossing and cutting off the region's main road. In the East Gippsland region, three fires burning near the towns of Bruthen, Buchan and Bonang rapidly expanded as temperatures soared to the mid-40Cs.
A fire which started on Sunday near the Princes Highway forced the road's closure for a few hours. Officials said the wind-driven blazes were "racing" towards the coast, and had moved faster than predicted.
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. "We have had a challenging day in Victoria," said Andrew Crispin, the state's emergency management commissioner.
He had warned people to evacuate by Monday morning or "there is every chance you won't be able to leave". He said the huge blazes had produced their own weather systems from smoke columns "punching into the atmosphere 14km high".
"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. "There's lightning coming out of these columns. It is unpredictable [and] it's dangerous out there," he said.
Authorities have reported instances of extreme fire activity in the state - such as blazes so massive they generate their own weather and thunderstorms. Similar fire-generated thunderstorms - or pyrocumulonimbus - were also recorded in NSW.
Any lightning strikes in dry, drought-affected forests have the potential to quickly become fires that threaten lives and homes, officials said. Lightning strikes in dry, drought-affected forests have the potential to quickly become fires that threaten lives and homes.
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. Dry lightning sparked at least 70 new fires in the region in the past 24 hours, 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 festival-goers to evacuate quickly. A 250km (155-mile) stretch of the Princes Highway east of Bairnsdale was closed on Monday.
On Sunday, Mr Crispin urged people in the region - about 280km (175 miles) east of Melbourne - to "get out", but confirmed on Monday that many people had remained in the region.
Elsewhere in the state, a major New Year's Eve music festival has been cancelled after organisers said the bushfire threat was too dangerous.
Some 9,000 people had already been camping at the Falls Festival in Lorne. Access is by a single track, meaning 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 the other states?What about the other states?
In South Australia, crews are battling "catastrophic" fire conditions in a wine region north-east of the city of Adelaide. In South Australia, crews battled "catastrophic" fire conditions in a wine region north-east of Adelaide.
The island state of Tasmania was also bracing for dangerous fires to break out amid a sweltering heatwave. Hobart, the state's capital, experienced its hottest December day on record when temperatures hit 40.8C on Monday. The island state of Tasmania also struggled to contain bushfires amid a sweltering heatwave.
Hobart, the state's capital, experienced its hottest December day on record when temperatures hit 40.8C on Monday.
More than 100 blazes continue to burn in NSW, the state worst-affected by the fires so far this year.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. Temperatures exceeded 41C in parts of the state, including in Sydney, Australia's largest city.
"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. Officials have warned that "deteriorating weather conditions" could worsen bushfires in the state on Tuesday.
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 town of Balmoral, south-west of Sydney, was largely destroyed on 22 December amid similar conditions.
The fires have destroyed four million hectares (9.9m acres) in five states since September. At least nine deaths have been linked to the fires. Will New Year's Eve fireworks go ahead?
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.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.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".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.""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.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. Details of a bushfire relief fund will 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. Across Australia, the fires have destroyed at least four million hectares (9.9m acres) in five states since September.
On Saturday Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that volunteer firefighters in New South Wales would receive compensation for loss of earnings after spending time away from jobs to battle bushfires.
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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