Over 30,000 forced to flee Australia's Gippsland Valley as bushfires rage
Over 30,000 people had been told to evacuate Australia's East Gippsland region before 9 a.m. local time on Monday, as soaring temperatures and high winds are expected to fan the flames of three enormous wildfires which have already burnt through 130,000 hectares of forest.
Over 30,000 people had been told to evacuate Australia's East Gippsland region before 9 a.m. local time on Monday, as soaring temperatures and high winds are expected to fan the flames of three enormous wildfires which have already burnt through 130,000 hectares of forest, Xinhua reported.
Everyone in East Gippsland must leave the area today due to the fire danger," Victoria State's Country Fire Authority (CFA) posted to social media.
Do not travel to this area. It is not possible to provide support and aid to all the visitors currently in the East Gippsland region."
A popular destination during the Christmas period for hikers, campers and families on holiday, the area in the Gippsland Valley affected by bushfires is over 15,000 square kilometers.
Its always a tough decision when you're asking a lot of people to leave an area," Andrew Crisp, the Commander of Emergency Management Victoria told the Seven Network.
However it's based on the evidence. We have a forecast today that it is going to be hot, it's very, very dry and it's going to be very windy, so we have dangerous conditions and we don't want people to be in East Gippsland."
Expecting temperatures around 43 degrees Celsius and wind gusts of 35 kilometers per hour, Crisp said because conditions are going to radically deteriorate as the day goes on, it's now too late to leave.
If you are not out by 9 o'clock, then you have to stay where you are because there is every chance the highways could be cut off," he warned.
We almost saw that yesterday afternoon. A new fire at the Cann River, we saw that fire travel 26 kilometers overnight with a column that was punching 14,000 meters into the air, creating its own weather."
Known as a pyrocumulus cloud, Australia's Bureau of Meteorology explained the phenomenon of "fire clouds" can cause dry lightning which authorities fear may the spread the blaze even further by igniting more bushland.
Over 550 forest firefighters have been dispatched in response to the emergency, along with 300 CFA volunteer firefighters.
There are also 70 planes and helicopters with water-bombing capabilities on standby for the emergency response efforts.
Source: Kazinform News Agency
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99,920 evacuated from flooded areas in Kazakhstan
Images | Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Kazakhstan
The Emergency Situations Ministry of Kazakhstan has issued the information on the flood situation in the country as of 5:00pm, Kazinform News Agency reports.
According to the Ministry, 99,920 people, including 36,593 children, were evacuated due to floods across the country.
10,015 people returned their homes.
As of 5:00pm, 6,566 people, including 3,194 kids, were accommodated in temporary shelters.
9 million 089 thousand cubic meters of meltwater were pumped away, 1.6 million sack tares or 1.2 million tons of inert material were laid.
Floodwater was diverted from 3,071 houses and 1,931 courtyards.
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Almost 100,000 rescued from flooded areas in Kazakhstan
Images | Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Kazakhstan
The number of flood-affected victims in Kazakhstan surpassed 97,000, including 32,000 children. 3679 adults and 3494 children were accommodated in temporary evacuation shelters as of today morning, Kazinform News Agency reports citing the press service of the Ministry of Emergencies.
The emergency services pumped out 8.8 million cubic meters of meltwater and laid more than 1.4 million sandbags and 1.1 million inert materials. Relief efforts involve more than 27,000 people, nearly 3,000 vehicles and 15 aircraft," said Yerassyl Saipash, chief officer of the Civil Defense Committee of the Ministry of Emergencies.
He reminded that state of emergency at the local scale was declared in Aktobe, Kostanay, West Kazakhstan, Akmola, Karaganda, Atyrau, North Kazakhstan, and Ulytau regions.
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Floods in Kazakhstan: over 82,000 farm animals moved to safer places
Images | primeminister.kz
96,472 people, including 31,640 children, were rescued since the outbreak of floods throughout Kazakhstan, Kazinform News Agency quotes senior officer of the civil defence and military units committee of the Kazakh Emergencies Ministry Yerassyl Saipash as saying.
2,823 people, including 865 kids, were airlifted from flood-hit regions. 7,605 people, including 3,474 children are staying at the temporary shelters. Over 82,500 farm animals were moved to safer places, he told a briefing.
167,935 kg of humanitarian aid was delivered to the flood-stricken regions.
Over 8.5 million tons of meltwater was pumped away, 1.3 million bags full of sand, and 1.1 million tons of internet materials were placed to reduce flood damage. Water was pumped out of 2,750 homes and 1,816 household plots.
24,295 people, 2,655 pieces of equipment, 469 motor pumps, 139 floating crafts, and 10 aircraft are deployed in flood relief operations.
As of now 3,444 homes, and 366 household plots in five regions, namely, Atyrau, Aktobe, Akmola, Kostanay and North Kazakhstan are still flooded.
8 bridges and roads were washed away by floodwaters across Kazakhstan.
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Risk of flooding remains in 219 settlements in N Kazakhstan
Images | primeminister.kz
The flood situation remains challenging in North Kazakhstan region, deputy governor Kanat Duzelbayev said during a briefing at the Central Communications Service, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.
According to the regional authority, presently the Sergeevskiy dam is 182% full. There are no blockages on the floodplain of the Yessil River. The overflow at the dam stands at 425 centimeters.
The threat of flooding remains in three districts and the city of Petropavlovsk. The flood situation is under constant control. The region is still covered with snow by 30%. There is a threat of inundation in 219 settlements. 13 homes out of the 40 have been flooded. 286 people have been evacuated, 44 have returned home. 111 courtyards have been inundated, said Duzelbayev.
177 personnel, 27 vehicles, 10 vessels and 48 motor pumps of the emergency situations ministry were sent to the region from Turkestan, Karaganda and Pavlodar regions. An additional 313 personnel of the defense ministry arrived in the region.
59 overflows have been reported on roads of the region… Works are ongoing to pump away melt water. 181km of irrigation ditches have been cleaned, 105.7km of canals expanded and deepened, 80 thousand sand tars prepared and 41 thousand sack tares laid, said the deputy governor of North Kazakhstan region.
1,874 personnel, 1,154 volunteers, 286 vehicles, 146 motor pumps and 20 vessels are engaged in the flood control activities in the region. Life-support facilities run as usual in the region.
Work is ongoing to reinforce the protective embarkment around the city of Petropavlovsk and the settlements of Kyzylzhar district.
Earlier it was reported that decline in the level of water was observed on the hydroposts in North Kazakhstan region.
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8 Uzbek nationals die in road accident in Aktobe region
Images | polisia.kz
Eight people were killed in a horrific road tragedy in Aktobe region April 3, Kazinform News Agency learned from polisia.kz.
The accident involving Volvo truck and Toyota-Alphard minivan, occured on the Samara-Shymkent highway, near Marzhanbulak village.
As a result of the accident, driver of the minivan, a national of Uzbekistan, and his seven passengers - also Uzbek nationals - died at the scene.
According to preliminary data, the truck had a tire blowout. The driver lost control of the vehicle, drove into oncoming lane and smashed into the minivan.
A pre-trial investigation has been launched.
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Evacuation ongoing in W Kazakhstan region due to floods
West Kazakhstan emergency authorities are evacuating citizens from flood-prone areas, Kazinform News Agency reports citing the Ministry of Emergencies.
Evacuation is underway in Samal and Vagonnik residential areas, located near the Chagan and Derkul rivers.
A door-to-door inspection is also being carried out. Safety rules have been explained to the population," the Ministry says.
On April 2, West Kazakhstan region announced state of emergency due to severe spring floods.
Deputy Governor Kaliyar Aitmukhambetov was tasked to focus on liquidation of the disaster consequences.
Meanwhile, Kazhydromet national weather service warns of water level rise in the region.
Water level may rise in the nearest time, by the end of the week," said Danara Alimbayeva, Director General of Kazhydromet, on the sidelines of the Government's weekly meeting today.
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Over 1,600 airlifted from flood-stricken regions of Kazakhstan
Images | Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Over 20 aircraft of the Kazakh Emergencies Ministry, Defense Ministry, and National Guard of the Kazakh Interior Ministry were dispatched to help flood-hit areas, Kazinform News Agency cites Kazaviaspas.
Rescue operations are underway in Ulytau, Kostanay, Aktobe, Atyrau, Karaganda, Pavlodar, Akmola and Abai regions.
1,669 people, including 425 children, were evacuated from flooded houses by helicopters. Crews were assigned to airlift over 30 tons of humanitarian assistance.
As earlier reported, 200 people from flood-affected villages in Karaganda region returned home.
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