Australia fire: More than 4,000 people trapped
It’s not a very pleasant start to a new year for some holidaymakers in Australia. More than 4,000 tourists and locals are trapped near a seaside in the town Mallacoota, Victoria, where the fire has encircled the whole area except the beach.
Many people left their houses and hotels to take refuge near the seaside from the fire. Thick smoke from the fires has turned the morning sky pitch black.
Temperatures in bushfire areas can hit hundreds of degrees Celsius killing anyone nearby, long before the flames reach them. If the fires are not put out, people may have to leave the place only via the ocean.
Australia’s unprecedented bushfires have been burning for months, but a new heatwave and high winds have wrought new devastation.
Located in the far eastern corner of Victoria, East Gippsland is home to about 80,000 people, who are scattered across remote villages and towns. The region is popular with tourists, who go to see wildlife and hike in the national parks.
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