Australia bushfires destroy homes, kill cattle
Sydney, (MILLAT ONLINE):High temperatures and strong winds have fuelled large grass and bushfires in Australia, officials said Monday, reducing dozens of houses to ash and killing cattle.
Sixty-nine homes were destroyed in the picturesque seaside village of Tathra on the south coast of New South Wales when a fire tore through the area on Sunday.
Some 40,000 hectares (100,000 acres) were also scorched in southwestern regions of neighbouring Victoria as dozens of blazes swept through over the weekend, wiping out beef and dairy cattle.
Despite the damage, authorities said there were no reports of serious injuries or deaths.
“It was an absolutely awful set of circumstances yesterday afternoon for the community of Tathra, dominated by this very hot, dry air and these very strong winds,” NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told Sky News Australia Monday.
Tathra resident David Porter, who fled home with his family to the neighbouring town of Bega as the fire approached, described seeing thick smoke and flying embers.
“As the fire came close, you could actually hear the sound of the fire and see the enormity of it coming over the hill,” Porter told AFP.
“It was just an overwhelming sight to see something so big and strong that was unstoppable moving towards you. You really realise as a human how insignificant you are when you see such a sight.”