The leader of Australia’s eastern New South Wales state has declared a week-long state of emergency in response to the escalating bushfire threat. High temperatures and strong winds are forecast for the weekend, leading to “widespread extreme fire danger”. Troops are also preparing to evacuate some of the 4,000 people trapped by fires in neighbouring Victoria state. Since September, bushfires have killed 18 people and destroyed more than 1,200 homes across NSW and Victoria.
At least 17 people remain missing after fires this week alone. Thousands of people are already fleeing a vast “tourist leave zone” in NSW, with supplies running low in some cut-off towns. It’s been called “the largest relocation out of the region ever”.
In Victoria, a naval vessel has arrived off the coastal town of Mallacoota, near the NSW border. Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said the ship would take up to 800 people early on Friday. He said it could do “multiple trips”.