A "tourist leave zone" has been declared on Australia's east coast - due to wildfires with fears tourists may get trapped if they stay.
Forecasters are predicting more high winds and raging temperatures across the country - which are expected to fan flames and spread the bushfires.
The crew from Fire and Rescue NSW Station 509 Wyoming recorded this video showing the moment their truck was overrun by the bushfire burning South of Nowra. The crew was forced to shelter in their truck as the fire front passed through. #NSWFires #ProtectTheIrreplaceable pic.twitter.com/Hb0yVrefi9
— Fire and Rescue NSW (@FRNSW) December 31, 2019
Holidaymakers will have 48 hours to now leave parts of the state of Victoria - while people have estimated that half a billion animals are dead.
A koala drinks water from a bottle given by a firefighter in Cudlee Creek, South Australia, 23-12-2109. Image: AP/Press Association Images"We cannot control the natural disaster, what we can do is control our response," said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
"What we can do is support those that are out there putting themselves at risk, by showing the calm and the patience necessary for them to do their job."
In Victoria, Australia’s second-most populous state, out-of-control wildfires are forcing thousands of residents and holidaymakers to evacuate.
Wildfires have killed 10 people and razed more than 1,000 homes across the country in the past few months. https://t.co/1MUZcywGZl pic.twitter.com/6rAjXEOFC1
— ABC News (@ABC) December 30, 2019
It comes just days after 4,000 people were trapped on a beach at Mallacoota in Victoria and fires surrounding the town forced the evacuation.
Cheers rang out from the crowd of people trapped when they found out that winds had changed and the town would be spared the worst of the damage from the flames.
Jimmy Cocking is a councillor in the central large town of Alice Springs - he said they are already experiencing climate refugees in their area. It is mainly aboriginal people who normally live in the outback, but have come into the town seeking shelter and cool areas away from the intense heat which is regularly reaching over 40 degrees Celsius in parts.
