A huge forest fire in the Australian state of Victoria is still not under control. Thousands of people are fleeing in the region, the AAP news agency reported on Friday, citing emergency services. At least one home had already been destroyed, but authorities expected more buildings could have burned, Fire Chief Jason Heffernan said. At least 11,000 hectares of land have already been destroyed.
Places around the city of Ballarat, about 120 kilometers northwest of metropolitan Melbourne, were particularly affected. Since Thursday, residents of dozens of communities have been urged to seek immediate safety.
About 1,000 firefighters, hundreds of fire trucks and almost 60 aircraft – including four large tankers – battled the flames. The cause of the forest fire was still unclear. However, high temperatures and strong winds pushed the fire front away extremely quickly on Thursday. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
