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QINGDAO TODAY
在线翻译:
szdaily -> World -> 
Australian wildfires destroy homes, force evacuations
    2019-11-14  08:53    Shenzhen Daily

SCORES of wildfires continued to rage across vast tracts of Australia’s drought-stricken east coast yesterday, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes, some for the second time in a week.

A helicopter crashed while being used to fight a bushfire in the northern Australian state of Queensland yesterday, a fire service official said.

“We’re aware that the helicopter crashed during waterbombing operations at the Pechey fire today,” the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service spokesperson said.

“We are currently looking for further clarification regarding the pilot’s condition.”

The most intense fires were concentrated in the northeastern states of New South Wales and Queensland, although a fire emergency warning had also been issued for a blaze threatening the west coast city of Geraldton.

New South Wales had lost more than 200 homes since Friday, while 14 homes had been destroyed in southeast Queensland.

Some communities have been evacuated repeatedly as the fire danger recedes, then returns with flames fanned by strong wind changes.

Tony Wellington, mayor of the Queensland town of Noosa North Shore, said residents there were being evacuated for the second time in a week.

A severe fire danger warning was in place for much of southern Queensland, with soaring temperatures and thunderstorms expected.

The Insurance Council of Australia, an industry body, said insurers had received 450 fire damage claims in the disaster areas.

In New South Wales, more than 50 homes were damaged or destroyed and 13 firefighters were injured overnight by catastrophic wildfires that subsided yesterday.

At one point Tuesday, 16 fires raged out of control at emergency level simultaneously across New South Wales, a near record number.

A weeklong state of emergency for New South Wales was declared Monday because of the fire danger.  (SD-Agencies)

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