Intense heatwave grips Australia’s southern states, fans bushfires
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The authorities advised residents to stay indoors and hydrate themselves.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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SYDNEY – Australia’s south sweltered through a brutal heatwave on Jan 7 that delivered temperatures above 40 deg C in some cities, triggering health warnings, straining power grids and causing bush fires to flare.
Meteorologists said the conditions were at their worst in six years, when catastrophic bushfires destroyed wide swathes
The nation’s weather bureau issued severe or extreme heat warnings for the states of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. It also warned of extreme fire danger across Victoria and South Australia.
“These elevated fire dangers are being driven by a very hot air mass that extends all the way from Western Australia with maximum temperatures in excess of 45 deg C,” said senior meteorologist Sarah Scully.
In Victoria, where temperatures reached up to 44 deg C, and 41 deg C in the state capital Melbourne, the authorities advised residents to stay indoors and hydrate themselves. Victoria’s emergency management commissioner Tim Wiebusch said firefighters were battling several fires across the state and conditions would worsen on Jan 9.
He said: “We already have a statewide advice warning message out for severe to extreme intensity heatwave, and are now seeing those conditions kick in across the state. We are particularly wanting Victorians to make sure they are alert to their conditions. Make sure you are staying in cool places.”
Temperatures also soared to 31 deg C in Sydney, 32 deg C in Perth and 43 deg C in Adelaide.
Some public spaces like libraries extended their opening hours to help residents stay cool, while others like the Monarto Safari Park were forced to shut for the day. More than 2,000 homes lost power in Adelaide.
“I think psychologically you have to keep calm in the heat and not panic,” Adelaide resident Valdine Tuckwell told national broadcaster ABC. “It is only two or three days. And then it goes down again.” REUTERS
