Bushfires are continuing to burn dangerously out of control in Australia, fanned by strong winds and soaring temperatures that have firefighters battling to save lives and property |
Victoria has 14 fires rated at emergency or evacuate warning levels, and New South Wales has 11 rated emergency, with more than 150 others burning across the states."There are a number of fires that are coming together – very strong, very large, intense fires that are creating some of these fire-generated thunderstorms," New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said.
The federal government announced an unprecedented call up of 3,000 army reservists to support firefighters as well other resources including a third navy ship equipped for disaster and humanitarian relief. The latest fatalities came on Kangaroo Island - a tourist haven off the coast southwest of Adelaide - when two people were trapped in a car overrun by flames.
"We said this is too tough for us, let's get out. We went to the beach and then hellfire came over the hill," he said. The first of two ships carrying families, pets and a few belongings arrived near Melbourne early today.
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