Canberra. A massive fire in the forests of New South Wales, Australia has made the situation extremely serious. With the temperature here being 42 degrees, the fire has become more fierce due to strong winds. Emergency alerts have been issued in many parts of the state and people have been advised to leave their homes immediately and go to safe places. The situation is so dire that the videos that have surfaced from many areas are heart-wrenching.
According to the information, the fire is spreading rapidly from the Central Coast to the Hunter Region. Thousands of hectares of forest were burnt to ashes in the Central Coast area on Saturday alone. The highest alert has been issued for densely populated areas such as Fagans Bay and Woy-Woy. The area is home to approximately 3.5 lakh people and is located just 45 kilometers from Sydney. According to media reports, so far 16 houses have been hit by fire and the number is expected to increase. The team of New South Wales Rural Fire Service has appealed to the people to immediately change their place if the exit route is safe.
According to the information, fires are raging at more than 50 places in the state. The Milsons Gully fire in the Upper Hunter is said to be the most serious, having burnt more than 10,000 hectares of forest. Due to continuously changing wind direction, it is becoming difficult to assess the damage correctly. At least 12 houses were completely burnt down in the Coolewong area of the Central Coast. According to the RFS official, many houses had already been destroyed before the teams arrived. Firefighters are trying to prevent the fire from reaching big cities like Woy Woy.
A fire in Tasmania’s Dolphin Sands has also burnt dozens of homes, sheds and vehicles. Here 700 hectares area was affected and two firefighters were injured. In some areas, there is a possibility of no electricity for a week due to burning of electric poles. Experts say strong winds and hot, dry weather could make the fires more dangerous in the coming days. Officials have appealed to the public to remain vigilant and follow warnings.
