SYDNEY (AP) More than 100 houses were destroyed by a Christmas Day wildfire that tore through a stretch of coastline popular with tourists in southern Australia, forcing thousands to flee their homes, officials said Saturday.
Advertisement
Louis van Gaal urges Manchester United response against Chelsea
They put in a pathetic performance in the first half. “I am able to deal with the pressure; the players still have to perform”. Murphy said: “With Jose Mourinho you’re guaranteed trophies and Pep Guardiola is the same”.
The blaze began with a lightning strike on 19 December and has been fanned by strong winds and intense heat in recent days, burning across 2,200 hectares (5,437 acres) so far.
South Koreans rally against deal with Japan on wartime sex slavery
Some of the victims denounced the deal considering it a political collusion between the two countries and it doesn’t satisfy their demands.
Firefighters battling a raging bushfire on Victoria’s surf coast hope a wind change and rain will stop the blaze reaching the tourist town of Lorne.
Syria war: Rebel leader’s death linked to camp evacuation pause
Syria later said it was carried out by its own air force, but it is not thought to have the capability for precision strikes. The top leader and founder of Jaish al-Islam Zahran Alloush was among those killed in the airstrike on Friday.
Wye River CFA brigade captain Ray Moriarty said eight firefighters in the town managed to fight beyond their number to save more homes from being destroyed.
ABC reports that the fire destroyed 116 properties on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, most of which were holiday homes.
Rain overnight on Friday helped slow the fires but bad weather also hampered the fire-fighting effort by preventing the water-dropping aircraft from taking off.
“We are seeing some significant spot fires breaking away from the main fire, particularly to the south”, he said.
Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley praised residents for their response to the evacuation order, which had been prepared in advance and was quickly executed.
Australia’s hot, dry climate makes wildfires a major risk in the southern hemisphere’s summer.
“It will grow back and things will be rebuilt and this is just gong to be part of the history of the town down the track and a story that we tell”.
Those affected by the devastating Christmas Day bushfires will soon be able to access up to $1300 in emergency relief under a joint state and federal government scheme.
Dr Tolhurst, who has given expert evidence on major bushfires such as the 2009 Black Saturday disaster, said one concern remains how the regrowth will then make the fire risk much worse in what is already a potential disaster area.
Advertisement
Great Ocean Road, southwest of Melbourne, is known for its handsome beaches and striking rock formations offshore.
