A wildfire ruined various parts of New South Wales in Australia, which left at least two people dead, more than 30 injured and destroyed over 100 homes.
At least 1,500 firefighters contained at least 90 fires across Australia's east coast where strong winds fanned flames, said Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons in a news report. The officials added 16 out of the 35 people injured were firefighters.
According to Fitzsimmons, firefighters discovered a dead body in a burned car near Glen Innes on Saturday. Another woman was found unconscious with severe burns near Glen Innes died in a hospital on Friday, he added.
At least seven people were reported to be missing in the area where the fire started, Fitzimmons said. He added the officials are expecting an increase in the number of missing persons in the area.
"There are really [serious issues] that there could be more losses or indeed more fatalities," he underscored. The damage toll could "significantly increase" as firefighters contain the flames and access the fire zones, the official said.
At 5.30pm, there are 96 fires burning across the state, with 57 yet to be contained. 17 fires remain at Emergency Warning, mostly across the north coast and northern NSW. If you are near a fire at Emergency Warning level, take action now to protect your life. #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/FWIQs2o0ES — NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 8, 2019
CNN affiliate Nine News reported that the areas most affected by the wildfires are Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Armidale, Nambucca, Clarence Valley, and Tenterfield.
The fire service said in a Twitter post that several blazes are "becoming more intense" and "more dangerous." It warned that these blazes created its own weather conditions. The officials added that fire clouds, which could generate lightning without rain, were developing.
Just gone 3pm here in Port Macquarie. Locals say they’ve never seen it so bad so early and are fearing the bushfire summer ahead @9NewsAUS @Ninecomau pic.twitter.com/HuAc4ti4q2 — Marc Dodd (@marcdodd) November 8, 2019
Rob Rogers, Mr. Fitzsimmons's deputy, noted that the mid-north coast area had several fires and was altogether affecting the communities. He added firefighters were overwhelmed between sending help to one fire or another
Progression of major fires today across NSW #NSWfires pic.twitter.com/KAZ3pW9i8O — Rob Rogers (@robrfs) November 8, 2019
More than 300 people, including Club Taree's chief executive Morgan Stewart, evacuated overnight to a social club in Taree. Club Taree's chief executive said he got scared as he heard several stories of losing houses and properties.
A resident stayed on the roof of his house in Wallabi Point while extinguishing burning embers carried by strong winds. He told The Guardian the winds were blowing and circling like a cyclone.
The fire danger reached unparalleled levels in New South Wales on Friday when more than ten fires reached the Emergency Warning Level.
The yearly fire season in Australia, which peaks during the Southern Hemisphere summer, started earlier after meteorologists forecasted an unusually warm and dry winter.
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