Sydney suburb is hottest place on the planet
A suburb of Sydney was the hottest place on Earth yesterday as Australian wildfires claimed two more lives.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison called up 3,000 military reservists on Saturday as the death toll rose to 23 since September when the worst Australian wildfire season on record began.
F i re tornadoes and dry lightning have hampered efforts to control more than 150 fires. Andrew Constance, Government minister and MP for the firera va g e d south coast, said yesterday: “I’ve got to be honest with you, this isn’t a bushfire. It’s an atomic bomb.”
The t e m p e ra t u re in the Sydney suburb of Penrith soared to 48.9C yesterday, making it the hottest place on Earth.
Ka n g a r o o Is l a n d , w h e re two people were found dead yesterday was devastated by fire. More than 150,000 hectares were burnt in a blaze which also destroyed luxury hotel complex Southern Ocean Lodge. Prime Minister Morrison said yesterday: “We are facing another extremely difficult next 24 hours.”
Australian navy ships have been lifting hundreds of people from beaches in towns cut off by roads by the fires. A second evacuation from Mallacoota beach will take place today. The Queen and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex sent messages of support yesterday. The Queen said: “I have been deeply saddened to hear of the continued bushfires and their devastating impact across many parts of Australia.
“Prince Philip and I send our thoughts and prayers to all Australians at this difficult time.”
Alongside t h re e p h o t o s, including one of a koala being carried by a firefighter, Harry and Meghan said: “This global environmental crisis has now been described as Ecocide. It’s easy to feel helpless, but there’s always a way to help.” Meanwhile, pop star Pink pledged half a million dollars to help the effort to control the fires.