Authorities have mandated the evacuation of tens of thousands of citizens in southeastern Victoria, Australia, as a massive bushfire rages on, local media stated Wednesday.
Approximately 30,000 individuals were directed to leave parts of Victoria by midday Wednesday. Firefighters are contending with the blaze amid some of the most severe fire conditions the nation has faced in recent years, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology has warned of “extreme to catastrophic fire dangers” in Victoria and South Australia due to hot, dry, and windy conditions. The bureau also forecasts temperatures reaching 45°C (113°F) in certain areas of the state.
“Today will be a very challenging day for firefighters,” Jason Heffernan, chief officer at Victoria Fire Department, told ABC television. “Today is one of those days when communities may need to take immediate action at very short notice.”
Hundreds of firefighters are currently engaged in combatting a bushfire that ignited near the city of Ballarat, situated 95 kilometers (60 miles) west of Melbourne, last Thursday.
The fire, which remains “not yet under control,” has ravaged the area, claiming six homes, livestock, and consuming over 20,000 hectares (49,421 acres) of land.
