SYDNEY – The scorching heatwave sweeping Australia’s south-eastern states continues today, as hot, dry and windy conditions raise the bush fire danger rating across the region, according to Xinhua news agency.
The temperature reached 40°C in Riverina, New South Wales, where a high fire danger rating has been forecasted by the state’s Meteorology Bureau.
In Melbourne, a cool change expected today will bring some relief to the people, after the coastal capital’s outer suburbs reached between 40°C and 41°C in the recent heatwave.
A total fire ban has been declared for some parts of Victoria, and the local Emergency Service Department urged the public to closely monitor fire danger warnings from today, regardless whether they live in fire ban areas or not.
A similar ban has also been declared in Australia’s island state of Tasmania, which is located off the nation’s east coast. – Bernama, January 25, 2021