Wildfires Sweep Across Two Australian States, Engulf Town
March 19, 2018—Australia's cluster of wildfires this season has devastated large tracts of the country's southeast, destroying some 100 houses, damaging others and forcing hundreds of people to flee. In New South Wales, much of the coastal town of Tathra lies in ruins. Residents of that area complained of inadequate early warning. Many, trapped and unable to evacuate, had to seek refuge in town or on its waterfront. Temperatures reaching 106 degrees Fahrenheit late last week contributed to the danger. High winds led the fire to spread rapidly. Wind speeds lowered on March 19, but numerous fires continue in New South Wales and the neighboring state of Victoria, where 150 square miles have burned since March 17. No human deaths have been reported, although many farm animals have died in the fires.
