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Australia fires: Navy rescues people from fire-hit Mallacoota | Australia fires: Navy rescues people from fire-hit Mallacoota |
(32 minutes later) | |
The Australian navy is evacuating people trapped in the fire-ravaged town of Mallacoota on the Victoria coast. | The Australian navy is evacuating people trapped in the fire-ravaged town of Mallacoota on the Victoria coast. |
Two ships, HMAS Choules and MV Sycamore, will pick up about 1,000 people, MP Darren Chester said. | Two ships, HMAS Choules and MV Sycamore, will pick up about 1,000 people, MP Darren Chester said. |
The first 56 people have left on the smaller ship, the Sycamore - at the start of what Mr Chester called an "unprecedented mass relocation". | |
Some 4,000 residents and tourists fled to the beach on Monday night, when racing bushfires encircled the town. | Some 4,000 residents and tourists fled to the beach on Monday night, when racing bushfires encircled the town. |
With roads cut off, the military evacuated around 60 people by helicopter last night. The air was too smoky to repeat the exercise on Friday. | With roads cut off, the military evacuated around 60 people by helicopter last night. The air was too smoky to repeat the exercise on Friday. |
By Thursday night, 963 had signed up for Friday's naval evacuations, with a few more doing so on Friday morning, Commander Scott Houlihan said. | By Thursday night, 963 had signed up for Friday's naval evacuations, with a few more doing so on Friday morning, Commander Scott Houlihan said. |
The evacuees will sail to Port Welshpool, local media reported - a 16-hour voyage down the Victoria coast. | The evacuees will sail to Port Welshpool, local media reported - a 16-hour voyage down the Victoria coast. |
The larger ship, HMAS Choules, has a "few hundred beds". Further trips are possible, depending on demand. | The larger ship, HMAS Choules, has a "few hundred beds". Further trips are possible, depending on demand. |
Victoria's Premier Daniel Andrews declared a state of disaster for six areas and resorts, including Mallacoota. | Victoria's Premier Daniel Andrews declared a state of disaster for six areas and resorts, including Mallacoota. |
"Some people will want to go, some people will be happy to stay," he said of the evacuation. | "Some people will want to go, some people will be happy to stay," he said of the evacuation. |
High temperatures and strong winds are forecast for the weekend, leading to what officials call "widespread extreme fire danger". | High temperatures and strong winds are forecast for the weekend, leading to what officials call "widespread extreme fire danger". |
In other parts of Victoria, people were urged to evacuate by road in convoy. There were also large queues at railway stations. | In other parts of Victoria, people were urged to evacuate by road in convoy. There were also large queues at railway stations. |
"It is forecast we will see dry thunderstorms coming across the state and the potential of lightning strikes," Andrew Crisp, emergency management commissioner for Victoria, warned on Friday. | |
He called on people to leave as soon as possible. | |
"This is your opportunity to get out," he said. "It is not just the fires we know [about]. It is the new fires that might start today." | |
Thousands of people are also fleeing parts of neighbouring New South Wales, where a week-long state of emergency is in force. | |
Since September fires have killed at least 20 people in the two states and dozens remain missing. | Since September fires have killed at least 20 people in the two states and dozens remain missing. |
The fires have so far destroyed more than 1,300 homes. | The fires have so far destroyed more than 1,300 homes. |
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has come under attack for his response to the fires. | Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has come under attack for his response to the fires. |
He was heckled by angry locals in Cobargo, New South Wales, and had to cut short his visit to the fire-hit town. | He was heckled by angry locals in Cobargo, New South Wales, and had to cut short his visit to the fire-hit town. |
In a news conference on Friday, he said he understood people's anger and that they had "suffered a great lot" and were "feeling very raw". | In a news conference on Friday, he said he understood people's anger and that they had "suffered a great lot" and were "feeling very raw". |
Mr Morrison has also faced criticism for his climate change policies, with many saying urgent action must be taken. | Mr Morrison has also faced criticism for his climate change policies, with many saying urgent action must be taken. |
But he insists that Australia is meeting the challenge "better than most countries" and fulfilling international targets. | But he insists that Australia is meeting the challenge "better than most countries" and fulfilling international targets. |
Opposition Labor leader Anthony Albanese said the government was not doing enough. | Opposition Labor leader Anthony Albanese said the government was not doing enough. |
Mr Morrison was earlier criticised for going on holiday to Hawaii as the bushfire crisis worsened. Public anger at his absence eventually forced him to cut that trip short. | Mr Morrison was earlier criticised for going on holiday to Hawaii as the bushfire crisis worsened. Public anger at his absence eventually forced him to cut that trip short. |
There's never a single reason why wildfires escalate and, in the case of Australia, a perfect storm of factors is involved. | There's never a single reason why wildfires escalate and, in the case of Australia, a perfect storm of factors is involved. |
The country regularly sees fires but they are usually centred on bushland while the current blazes are striking forests, which burn hotter and higher so are harder to tackle. | The country regularly sees fires but they are usually centred on bushland while the current blazes are striking forests, which burn hotter and higher so are harder to tackle. |
There's plenty to ignite. A programme to create firebreaks - deliberately clearing vegetation to prevent it from catching fire - has unfolded less quickly than hoped. It's slow, labour-intensive work, and expensive too. | There's plenty to ignite. A programme to create firebreaks - deliberately clearing vegetation to prevent it from catching fire - has unfolded less quickly than hoped. It's slow, labour-intensive work, and expensive too. |
On top of all this, a pattern of unusually dry weather over the past three years culminated in the driest spring on record at the end of last year. | On top of all this, a pattern of unusually dry weather over the past three years culminated in the driest spring on record at the end of last year. |
That left many areas vulnerable to fire, particularly when 2019 also proved to be Australia's hottest on record - and warmer conditions cause more evaporation, adding to the risk. | That left many areas vulnerable to fire, particularly when 2019 also proved to be Australia's hottest on record - and warmer conditions cause more evaporation, adding to the risk. |
All this has sharpened Australia's divisions over climate change. A coal-rich economy that depends on fossil fuels faces new questions about its own hand in raising temperatures. | All this has sharpened Australia's divisions over climate change. A coal-rich economy that depends on fossil fuels faces new questions about its own hand in raising temperatures. |
What about other parts of Australia? | What about other parts of Australia? |
In the capital Canberra - an administrative region surrounded by NSW - bushfire smoke meant air quality there was rated the third worst of all major global cities on Friday, according to Swiss-based group AirVisual. | In the capital Canberra - an administrative region surrounded by NSW - bushfire smoke meant air quality there was rated the third worst of all major global cities on Friday, according to Swiss-based group AirVisual. |
An elderly woman died after being exposed to the smoke as she exited a plane at Canberra airport, local reports say. Australia Post has suspended deliveries in the city "until further notice". | An elderly woman died after being exposed to the smoke as she exited a plane at Canberra airport, local reports say. Australia Post has suspended deliveries in the city "until further notice". |
The university campus of Australian National University has been closed until 7 January as a "precautionary measure". | The university campus of Australian National University has been closed until 7 January as a "precautionary measure". |
Two regions of Western Australia (WA) were also facing catastrophic fire danger on Thursday, and parts of South Australia were expected to see extreme conditions on Friday. | Two regions of Western Australia (WA) were also facing catastrophic fire danger on Thursday, and parts of South Australia were expected to see extreme conditions on Friday. |
Meteorologists say a climate system in the Indian Ocean, known as the dipole, is the main driver behind the extreme heat in Australia. | Meteorologists say a climate system in the Indian Ocean, known as the dipole, is the main driver behind the extreme heat in Australia. |
However, many parts of Australia have been in drought conditions, some for years, which has made it easier for the fires to spread and grow. | However, many parts of Australia have been in drought conditions, some for years, which has made it easier for the fires to spread and grow. |
Have you been told to evacuate? You can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk if it is safe for you to do so. | Have you been told to evacuate? You can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk if it is safe for you to do so. |
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 |