Displaying items by tag: Australia Bushfires

Thousands shelter on beaches as fires rip through Victoria and New South Wales

Australia’s bushfire crisis has claimed at least two more lives, authorities confirmed on Tuesday, as dozens of fires tore through several towns on the east coast and forced thousands of people to take shelter on beaches.

Two people – a father and son – died when fire hit the New South Wales town of Cobargo on Tuesday, while emergency services officials held grave fears for a third person, near Narooma, on the state’s south coast.

In Victoria, where more than 200,000ha has burned in the state’s east, at least four people were unaccounted for. The armed forces stand ready to evacuate those sheltering on the state’s beaches if needed.

Eleven people have been confirmed dead across all states in this year’s bushfire season so far.

The NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, said it was “absolutely” the state’s worst bushfire season on record as he warned the reality of the damage would become clear only once the fires were under control.

“We need to brace ourselves for a considerable number of properties, a considerable number of homes that are likely to have been damaged and or destroyed right across these eight emergency warning fire areas, given the extraordinary nature of the fire behaviour and fire spread today,” he said.

In his New Year’s message, the prime minister, Scott Morrison, said the fires were having a “devastating impact” and warned that the weeks and months ahead would “continue to be difficult”.

Pray: for those whose lives, livelihoods and homes have been affected by these devastating fires.

Pray: for safety and wisdom for the brave servicemen and volunteers who are fighting the fires.

Pray: that rain will come and the winds will change supernaturally, to stop the fires in their tracks.

Pray: for those helping with the aftermath both with rebuilding neighbourhoods and also caring for the habitat, wildlife and animals.

Pray: for the Church in Australia to rise up and be united amidst controversial legislation being debated in several states.