Bushfire threat forces evacuation of northern Australian town

6/11/2024 15:06

        Residents of a town in the Australian state of Queensland have been evacuated due to a threat posed by a fast-moving bushfire.
        
        Queensland Police on Tuesday night declared an emergency situation for the town of Dirranbandi, 500 km southwest of the state capital of Brisbane, and ordered the approximately 600 residents of the town to leave immediately at 8 p.m. local time.
        
        As of Wednesday morning, a "Watch and Act" warning remained in place and it was not safe for the residents to return to the town.
        
        The evacuation was ordered on Tuesday as two bushfires burning to the southeast and northeast of the town were moving north.
        
        An evacuation center was set up 80 km north of Dirranbandi and evacuees were told to take bedding and essential items.
        
        Fire crews from Queensland and the neighboring state of New South Wales, including aerial water-bombing crews, fought the fires through the night and were expected to return on Wednesday.