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NSW, Victoria bushfires: Australia fires cause tens of thousands to flee in mass evacuation – live NSW, Victoria fires: Australia bushfires cause tens of thousands to flee in mass evacuation – live
(32 minutes later)
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews declares state of disaster for East Gippsland, urging people to flee bushfire zones, while Scott Morrison is abused by fire victims in Cobargo. Follow today’s live news and latest updatesVictorian premier Daniel Andrews declares state of disaster for East Gippsland, urging people to flee bushfire zones, while Scott Morrison is abused by fire victims in Cobargo. Follow today’s live news and latest updates
We’re jumping states again to South Australia, which is experiencing today that extreme fire weather followed by a gusty wind change that Victoria and NSW are forecast to get tomorrow.
Country Fire Service chief officer Mark Jones says the biggest threat at the moment is to Kangaroo Island. About 150 firefighters are battling blazes in the west and southwest of the island, and Jones said it was disappointed that many did not heed warnings to leave the island.
Both fires have breached control lines, and fire danger indexes for the island “greatly exceeded those predicted.”
In some good news, the Cudlee Creek fire, which did run today, are being contained.
Jones said he expects homes will have been lost on Kangaroo Island today.
95% of ACT firefighters returned home ahead of extreme conditions
To the ACT now, where the chief minister, Andrew Barr, is addressing the media about their fire preparations.
There is no fire in the ACT at the moment but fires in NSW, particularly the Kosciuszko National Park, are close. Barr says 95% of ACT firefighting resources have been returned to the territory ahead of the fire threat tomorrow.
Canberra is also a landing point for those who have evacuated from the NSW south coast.
Barr said he recognised that people were anxious about the possibility of evacuations in the ACT itself, if fire starts, and preparations were in place to stand up an evacuation centre at short notice if needed.
He said the best way for people to help those affected by bushfires was to donate to the Red Cross.
Steve Warrington, the chief officer of the Victorian Country Fire Authority, has toured fire-affected areas at Sarsfield near Bairnsdale and is addressing the media in Bairnsdale now.
He says that 3.5% of the state has been affected by fire, but the most significant impact has been on the loss of lives and homes.
Wairewa, 50km east of Bairnsdale, lost 11 of its 22 homes.
Buchan lost 24 homes. Firefighting efforts were focused on saving the centre of Buchan, so the property losses are on the outskirts.
Warrington urged people to think seriously about the prospect that their home could burn down — not just feel bad for those who lost everything but assume it would never happen to them.
He says even experienced firefighters are scared.
Trade in shares of Kangaroo Island Plantation Timber has been halted until next Tuesday while the company assesses the damage of fires that have already destroyed more that 13% of its forests.
The company, which grows blue gum and pine trees, has been battling fires on Kangaroo Island, south-west of Adelaide, since before Christmas.
South Australia’s Country Fire Service has declared an emergency on the island, where two fires are burning.
Just yesterday, KIPT said it would try to salvage wood from the areas that have already burned by bringing forward harvesting.
The areas so far known to be burned were worth about $20m, KIPT said.
Smoke from the bushfires is affecting air quality in Melbourne. EPA Victoria says the air quality is poor; at that press conference at the state control centre just now the report was “hazardous to poor” air quality in Melbourne and as far west as Geelong.Smoke from the bushfires is affecting air quality in Melbourne. EPA Victoria says the air quality is poor; at that press conference at the state control centre just now the report was “hazardous to poor” air quality in Melbourne and as far west as Geelong.
A statewide air quality warning was issued just after 2.11pm. If your maximum visibility is 1.5km, the alert says, “your air quality is in the hazardous level, and you need to limit your time outdoors, limit exercise, and follow any treatment plans.”A statewide air quality warning was issued just after 2.11pm. If your maximum visibility is 1.5km, the alert says, “your air quality is in the hazardous level, and you need to limit your time outdoors, limit exercise, and follow any treatment plans.”
Granger reiterated that people in the at risk areas of East Gippsland and northeast Victoria should leave.Granger reiterated that people in the at risk areas of East Gippsland and northeast Victoria should leave.
Andrew Crisp said he had been told by the incident controller in Gippsland that there were a lot of people on the road, apparently leaving the area.Andrew Crisp said he had been told by the incident controller in Gippsland that there were a lot of people on the road, apparently leaving the area.
Guardian Australia has been told by people on in northeast Victoria that there has been a steady exodus of people from the alpine region and into Wangaratta.Guardian Australia has been told by people on in northeast Victoria that there has been a steady exodus of people from the alpine region and into Wangaratta.
Mick Granger says that the numbers of those declared deceased and unaccounted for in the East Gippsland fires have not changed.Mick Granger says that the numbers of those declared deceased and unaccounted for in the East Gippsland fires have not changed.
As of this morning, that’s two men confirmed deceased and 28 people unaccounted for.As of this morning, that’s two men confirmed deceased and 28 people unaccounted for.
Granger asked for patience in tracking down those missing people and confirming what has happened to them, and said that number could fluctuate.Granger asked for patience in tracking down those missing people and confirming what has happened to them, and said that number could fluctuate.
He said that police had been working to get into other isolated communities, on top of Mallacoota, to ensure they’re aware of the recommendation to evacuate. Satellite phones have been delivered to many isolated communities so they are no longer cut off.He said that police had been working to get into other isolated communities, on top of Mallacoota, to ensure they’re aware of the recommendation to evacuate. Satellite phones have been delivered to many isolated communities so they are no longer cut off.
Mick Granger from Victoria Police says that 1,200 people are being evacuated from Mallacoota by sea today, and will make the 16-hour voyage to Hastings, which is a deepwater port on the Mornington Peninsula.Mick Granger from Victoria Police says that 1,200 people are being evacuated from Mallacoota by sea today, and will make the 16-hour voyage to Hastings, which is a deepwater port on the Mornington Peninsula.
“We know that one of the ADF vessels has left Mallacoota and they’re in the process of loading about 1,100 people onto a second vessel that’ll leave later this afternoon,” Granger said.“We know that one of the ADF vessels has left Mallacoota and they’re in the process of loading about 1,100 people onto a second vessel that’ll leave later this afternoon,” Granger said.
Another three dozen people or so have been airlifted from Mallacoota to Sale. They are people considered to be at the greatest health risk.Another three dozen people or so have been airlifted from Mallacoota to Sale. They are people considered to be at the greatest health risk.
Richard Russell, from the Bureau of Meteorology, says Victoria will experience “strong, hot dry, north to north-westerly winds” in the fire zone ahead of a south-westerly change tomorrow.Richard Russell, from the Bureau of Meteorology, says Victoria will experience “strong, hot dry, north to north-westerly winds” in the fire zone ahead of a south-westerly change tomorrow.
That change will reach Melbourne about 8am, and East Gippsland around midday, bringing gusty south-westerly winds.That change will reach Melbourne about 8am, and East Gippsland around midday, bringing gusty south-westerly winds.
This is a similar weather pattern to Monday, but the change on Monday came through much later. It was also held back by the smoke column from the East Gippsland fires, which generated its own weather and held back the winds. You also see some swirling winds while the change comes through.This is a similar weather pattern to Monday, but the change on Monday came through much later. It was also held back by the smoke column from the East Gippsland fires, which generated its own weather and held back the winds. You also see some swirling winds while the change comes through.
Temperatures before the wind change are forecast to be very hot — up to 46C in Albury, near the Tallangatta fires.Temperatures before the wind change are forecast to be very hot — up to 46C in Albury, near the Tallangatta fires.
Andrew Crisp warns that new fires could start at any time, anywhere in Victoria. It’s not enough to just look at the fires that are already burning and decide you are safe, he said.Andrew Crisp warns that new fires could start at any time, anywhere in Victoria. It’s not enough to just look at the fires that are already burning and decide you are safe, he said.
Crisp said that people in Victoria had a “shared responsibility” to stay informed about any fires or potential fires in their area, and stay safe.Crisp said that people in Victoria had a “shared responsibility” to stay informed about any fires or potential fires in their area, and stay safe.
Victorian emergency management commissioner Andrew Crisp is speaking now at the state control centre in Melbourne. He is providing an update on the fire situation, heading into extreme fire conditions tomorrow.
Crisp says:
Crisp says the key message from the declaration of a state of natural disaster is that people in affected areas — that’s Gippsland and the North East — need to get out.
This video, released by authorities in Victoria, gives a sense of the scale of the bushfires burning in East Gippsland. It was filmed from a helicopter with a thermal camera.
The bright white bits are the fire.
There are five ‘evacuate now’ warnings in Victoria at the moment
The most recent warning to evacuate was issued for Bessiebelle in western Victoria, in areas south of the Budj Bim national park and Aboriginal heritage landscape, at 2.33pm. There’s an out of control bushfire in the national park, which is burning in a southerly direction.
The other “evacuate now” warnings are for Boggy Creek and Bullumwall in East Gippsland, which are under threat from the fire burning at Mount Taylor, north of Bairnsdale; and for two areas in the north-east, near Tallangatta along the Murray Valley Highway, and at Towong, which is threatened by the Walwa fire.
If you are in Victoria or travelling through Victoria, it’s a good idea to install the Vic Emergency app and set up your area of concern. You’ll then get alerts to your phone whenever a new warning comes through. If you are travelling into an area without phone reception, or if you lose phone or internet, tune into ABC local radio.
Scott Morrison has just given an interview on ABC Radio in Victoria. He says the national security committee of cabinet will now meet tomorrow.
The PM had said yesterday it would meet on Monday, which drew criticism from Anthony Albanese today.
Asked why the delay to Monday, Morrison replied: “They are meeting tomorrow.”
The prime minister, who is in Victoria today, also gave more details about the defence force’s involvement in the fire effort.
He said 100 defence force reservists had now signed up to take part in ADF-led operations.
When the Victorian government asks for more assistance, “we will keep saying yes every time”, Morrison said.
There has been some movement in the Currowan fire at Shoalhaven.
Good afternoon everyone. I am taking over our live coverage from Helen Davidson.
Scott Morrison has just been on radio in Melbourne. We’ll bring you what he said shortly. If you want to send us information directly, you can reach me on Twitter @callapilla or at calla.wahlquist@theguardian.com
This report is from NITV’s Madeline Hayman-Reber. You can read the full story here.
The pregnant woman who refused to shake the prime minister’s hand during a photo opportunity at Cobargo says she lost everything in the fires that ravaged the town on New Year’s Eve.
Scott Morrison was met with heckling and abuse on Thursday night as angry locals told him they were unsatisfied with the response to fires that destroyed their town.
In footage that quickly went viral, Zoey is seen shaking Morrison’s hand before saying she would only do so if the prime minister provided more funding for the Rural Fire Service. The prime minister took her hand anyway and then is seen walking away without saying anything further.
In a post on Facebook, Zoey wrote: “I have lost everything I own.” She later added: “My house is burnt to the ground the prime minister turned his back on me.”
Asked by a reporter how he could claim to being offering support when he walked away from the woman, Morrison replied: “I stood there with the same lady you’re referring to.
“We talked about what she was asking there, which was greater support for the firefighting effort in that part of New South Wales. So we talked about that.”