Thousands trapped on Australian beaches by dangerous bushfires

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

WORLD NEWS DECEMBER 30, 2019 / 5:59 PM / UPDATED 41 MINUTES AGO

Thousands trapped on Australian beaches by dangerous bushfires

Sonali Paul, Swati Pandey
5 MIN READ

MELBOURNE/SYDNEY (Reuters) - Thousands swarmed to beaches on Australia’s east coast on Tuesday to escape fierce wildfires bearing down on several seaside towns, as the government readied naval vessels and military helicopters to aid firefighting and evacuations.

Government officials called for Australian military support and assistance from U.S. and Canadian fire crews as authorities confirmed two people had died overnight, taking to 11 the total deaths in wildfires since the beginning of October.

The huge bushfires have destroyed more than 4 million hectares (10 million acres), with new blazes sparked into life almost daily by extremely hot and windy conditions in bushland left tinder dry after a three-year drought.

Fueled by searing temperatures and high winds, more than 200 fires are now burning across the southeastern states of New South Wales and Victoria, threatening several towns and snapping their power, mobile and internet links.

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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-bushfires/thousands-trapped-on-australian-beaches-by-dangerous-bushfires-idUSKBN1YY1I3

[blm]

1. Horrific

[canetoad]

2. Clarification

This is essentially true, but only in one small town and beach(Mallacoota) on the NSW/Victorian border. This afternoon (AEST) 5,000 residents and holidaymakers retreated to the foreshore as fires burned close to the outskirts of the town. Roads north and south were blocked by fires; no point in heading inland.

Telecommunications are down. Military is deployed.

However, dozens of uncontrolled bushfires are raging in all eastern states.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. Update: fire has passed through or by the area & people are safe. Some people were in the water. nt

[Laura PourMeADrink]

4. Good news, thanks.