SYDNEY: Canberra authorities on Friday declared the first state of emergency in almost two decades as a bushfire bore down on the Australian.
The move comes ahead of heatwave conditions expected over the coming days and as experts predicted fires could hit southern suburbs of the city of about 400,000.
Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister Andrew Barr told the step was helpful now and will be in place for as long as Canberra is at risk.
He warned and said the situation in the coming days could become uncontrollable, adding a state of emergency is the strongest signal, authorities could send to the ACT community that they must prepare themselves and their families.
The state of emergency has been declared for the first time in the Australian Capital Territory since 2003. It said that the huge threat comes from the Orroral Valley fire, which has burned more than 17,000 hectares (45,000 acres) of generally far-flung bushland.
In South Australia, several bushfire-prone areas warnings were issued due to dangerous fire weather, as Temperatures reached above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on Thursday.
Officials inform the searing heat, accompanied by dry winds, would bring harsh bushfire situation to parts of New South Wales and Victoria, where more than 82 fires are still burning across the states, officials added.
It further stated that extreme weather has battered parts of Australia in recent weeks, bringing giant hail, floods, and landslides. At least 34 residences have died and vast swathes of the country have been burned during the five months.
The months-long crisis has sparked renewed calls for Australia’s conservative government to take immediate steps on climate change, while people urging Morrison to trim down the country’s dependence on coal.
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