3,000 RESERVISTS CALLED IN AS WILDFIRES WORSEN
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USTRALIAN Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Saturday called up 3,000 defence force reservists as the threat of wildfires escalated on what shaped as a torrid weekend in at least three states.
As temperatures in western Sydney reached 47⁰C, Mr Morrison said two more deaths had been confirmed yesterday, bringing the toll since the country’s worst wildfire season on record began in September to 23.
“We are facing another extremely difficult next 24 hours,” Mr Morrison told reporters, while also confirming his scheduled visits to India and Japan later this month had been postponed due to the ongoing situation.
Australia was bracing for one of the worst days of the crisis yet yesterday, as searing heat and strong winds were forecast to bring flames to more populated areas.
Officials warned a fire in a national park west of Sydney had the potential to spread into the city’s outer western suburbs.
The defence force reservists will fight fires alongside thousands of full-time and volunteer firefighters, plus scores more brought in from other countries including Canada and the United States.
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian says her state is facing “another terrible day” and called on people in areas threatened by the fires to leave while they still could.
Authorities also repeated warnings fires could move “frighteningly quick”, with embers carried by wind having the potential to spark new fires or enlarge existing ones.
Australian navy ships have been lifting hundreds of people from beaches in towns cut off by roads by the fires.
Tens of thousands of people have been urged to flee communities near fires, many of them coastal holiday centres, before hot and windy weather intensified over the weekend.
Australia’s summer wildfire season arrived early – in September – and has been more intense than any on record.
Collectively, more than 20,000 square miles has been burnt out around the country, and area almost the size of Croatia.
At least 20 people have died, and more than 1,400 homes have been destroyed.
SINGER Pink has donated half a million US dollars to local fire services in Australia amid t the country’s w wildfire crisis.
Pink is one of the many celebrities to have spoken out about the fires, revealing her pledge of half a million US dollars (£382,043) in a post on Twitter.
“I am totally devastated watching what is happening in Australia right now with the horrific bushfires,” she wrote. “I am pledging a donation of 500,000 dollars directly to the local fire services that are battling so hard on the frontlines. My heart goes out to our friends and family in Oz.”
Australian pop star Kylie Minogue tweeted: “Humbled by the extraordinary efforts of the emergency services and volunteers in the ongoing bushfire crisis in Australia.”
Actress Naomi Watts in an Instagram post said: “Big gratitude to the brave firemen who literally haven’t stopped during the holidays!! Heartbroken for all the animals, plants and land. Pray for rain.”