Exodus by road and sea
THE biggest ever exodus in Victorian history has preceded a day of heatwave conditions which are today expected to fuel lethal bushfires in the east and northeast of the state.
Thousands of people evacuated the fire zone yesterday, seeking refuge and fleeing forecast extreme conditions.
High temperatures are predicted for today – 46C in Wodonga, 44C in Corryong and 40C in Mallacoota.
Strong north-north-westerly winds are expected to push fire fronts south and some blazes could even merge and intensify, threatening more communities. An afternoon wind change, and even the chance of dry lightning, will only heighten fears of further destruction and loss of life.
Almost 50 blazes, many out of control, were raging across the state last night. Two people are confirmed to have died in the East Gippsland blazes with fears mounting for another 28 missing residents.
The scale of the crisis escalated last night when the state’s Emergency Management headquarters issued 10 evacuation orders – five in East Gippsland, four in the northeast and one near Portland in the southwest. Another four emergency warnings were in place, as well as 15 more “watch and act” orders.
About 100,000 people were told they “must leave” their homes to guarantee their safety. Those residents and tourists are within six local government areas that were declared a “state of disaster” for the first time in Victoria’s history, and are spread across large parts of East Gippsland, Mansfield, Wellington, Wangaratta, Towong and Alpine shires.
A day of total fire ban has been declared in the Mallee, Northern Country, North Central, North East, East Gippsland and West and South Gippsland districts.
Last night many families with young children were preparing to be flown out of Mallacoota after more than 1000 people left the town via HMAS Choules and MV Sycamore. Crew on the Choules were busy making life as comfortable as possible for the evacuees last night.
The journey to Hastings will take 20 hours, with arrival at about lunchtime today.
About 30 people, mostly sick and frail, had earlier been flown from Mallacoota by helicopter to Sale.
Police Assistant Commissioner Mick Grainger said Victorians needed to be ready today. “These are dire circumstances, no doubt,’’ he said.
Dr Andrea Hinwood, chief environmental scientist at the EPA, said people in areas with visible smoke should stay indoors where possible.
“The pollutants produced in cigarette smoke are exactly the same as produced from bushfire smoke just in different ratios,” Dr Hinwood said.