Bushfire threat in 3 Australian states

SYDNEY: Bushfires destroyed buildings and threatened lives yesterday as a heatwave in three states brought temperatures strong enough to melt the bitumen on a highway.

A fire raging out of control set several structures ablaze on the outskirts of Melbourne, the country’s second largest city, and the capital of the southeastern state of Victoria.

The state’s emergency management commissioner, Craig Lapsley, said hot temperatures had combined with dry weather, strong winds and a wind change to create dangerous conditions.

About 400 homes lost power and 50 fires were reported across Victoria yesterday, although many were small and were extinguished. Emergency warnings were issued both in Victoria and in the nearby state of South Australia, where authorities advised AYATOLLAH SEYYED HOSSEIN MOUSAVI TABRIZI,

Former Iranian chief prosecutor residents of a rural area to seek shelter in buildings from an outof-control fire.

Experts considered such a move to be safer than running the risk of getting trapped in the open if the fire suddenly changed direction. Total fire bans took effect from midnight as Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania braced for dangerous fire conditions caused by temperatures Country Fire Authority officers arriving as smoke from a bushfire engulfs a property in Carrum Downs, Melbourne, yesterday. exceeding 40°C.

The heat was strong enough to melt the bitumen on a 10km stretch of freeway in Victoria, national broadcaster ABC News reported. Reuters