Main » 2013»January»8 » Searing temperatures fan Australia wildfires
09:30
Searing temperatures fan Australia wildfires
High winds and record temperatures have fanned fires in south-east Australia, as the prime minister warned of a "very dangerous day".
More than 100 fires have already been reported in New South Wales, with residents in some areas urged to leave.
An uncontrolled fire is burning by the Tasman peninsula, near areas already hit by blazes(яркий огонь) over the weekend.
Teams in Victoria are also fighting a blaze, as Australia's heat wave continues.
Four areas in New South Wales have been given a "catastrophic" fire danger rating, meaning that if fires break out they will be uncontrollable and fast-moving, so residents should leave.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard said residents had to stay alert.
"The word catastrophic is being used for good reason," she said. "So it is very important that people keep themselves safe, that they listen to local authorities and local warnings.
"This is a very dangerous day."
Record heat
The fires and warnings follow days of searing heat. In a statement, Australia's Bureau of Meteorology revealed that for each of the first six days of 2013, the "national area-average" temperature had been in the top 20 hottest days on record.
It was also the first time that average national top temperatures over 39C had been recorded on five consecutive days, the bureau said.
A change in wind direction across New South Wales will see a 20C drop in temperatures in Sydney this week, bringing some relief(облегчение)
Bans(запрет) on lighting fires are in place across New South Wales, Canberra, Tasmania and Victoria.
In New South Wales, temperatures had passed 40C by midday at the coast. Winds of up to 80kph (50mph) have also been forecast.
All national parks, state forests and reserves have been closed to the public and many tourists are reported to be leaving campsites.
State Rural Fire Service (RFS) Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said 21 fires were burning uncontained and these "could be influenced by the adverse weather and take a run."
"It's shaping up to be a very difficult day," he added. "You don't get conditions worse than this."
More than 100 houses were destroyed in Tasmania over the weekend by fire. Teams have been searching through destroyed buildings but no deaths have been reported.
A blaze between Forcett and the Tasman Peninsula - from which many people were evacuated by boat over the weekend - has been upgraded to dangerous, with residents instructed to go to a local boat ramp or beach.
A big fire is also burning in Yarrabin, 100km (60 miles) south of Canberra. The RFS say it is out of control and have advised residents to seek shelter, saying it is too late to leave.
In western Victoria, a fire in Kentbruck is burning out of control. More than 7,000 hectares (17,000 acres) of pine plantation has been destroyed and the blaze is now threatening the community of Drik Drik.
A fire was also reported in an electrical substation building at the Lucas Heights nuclear research facility in the south of Sydney.
The fire, believed to have been caused by an electrical failure, has been brought under control, local media report.
Questions 1 How many fires have been reported? 2 Where is an uncontrolled fire burning? 3 How many areas have been given a "catastrophic" fire danger rating? 4 What states has the ban on lightening fires? 5 How many houses were destroyed in Tasmania?
It is an awful accident. Our planet is going crazy. There were a lot of such events recently. I think we must protect our nature and control our activity.
