Deadly warning as towns under bushfire threat
Victorian bushfire threats as one Riverland town’s temperature tops the SA region’s charts.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology
Authorities have issued a “deadly” warning about a bushfire raging at Victoria’s Otways, urging residents to take shelter because it’s too late to leave.
A feared wind change late on Tuesday pushed an out-of-control blaze at Carlisle River in the direction of homes near Gellibrand, in south-west Victoria.
The flames were threatening homes and lives at Gellibrand, Barongarook, Barongarook West, Kawarren, Carlisle River, Gerangamete.
“You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive,” the warning said.
“The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave.
“Leaving now would be deadly.”
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It comes after Victoria’s temperature record was broken on Tuesday as the towns of Ouyen, an hour south of Mildura, and Hopetoun peaked at 48.9 degrees.
Residents at Renmark, in South Australia’s Riverland region, also endured their hottest day on record, with temperatures reaching 49.6 degrees.
Senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said many towns across the nation experienced record-breaking heat, marking their hottest days.
“There’s some pretty longstanding records that have fallen,” he said.
The Victorian regional centre of Mildura hit a top of 48.6 degrees, its hottest day on record.
The town of about 35,000 people is forecast to have 40 degree-plus days until Saturday.
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The nearby town of Walpeup was first off the block, becoming the hottest town in Victoria with 48.9 degrees at 12.30pm, also its hottest day on record.
Melbourne got off to a slower start but kept building, edging past 40 degrees by mid-afternoon, before reaching a maximum of 42.7 early on Tuesday night.
Cooler conditions are expected for much of Victoria on Wednesday, although the heatwave gripping inland regional areas is far from over.
Narramore said the hot air was pushing into north-west NSW and Queensland, bringing another day of extreme fire danger and scorching conditions.
An extreme heatwave warning remains for several Victorian regions on Wednesday, including the Mallee, Wimmera, Northern Country, East Gippsland, West and South Gippsland and North Central regions.
Victorian chief health officer Caroline McElnay said severe heatwave conditions were dangerous for many vulnerable people in the community.
“It can cause potentially fatal health problems such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, but it can also trigger events like heart attacks or stroke,” she said on Tuesday.
“Please take steps to protect yourself and others by keeping cool. Stay hydrated. Plan ahead to avoid the heat and check in with others.”
Melburnians will enjoy a top temperature of 24 degrees on Wednesday, while Adelaide will peak at 30 degrees.
It’s a far cry from conditions of just a day earlier, with Melbourne getting to42 degrees, a few degrees short of its record high of 46.4 degrees set on February 7, 2009.
-with AAP
