The premier of the Australian state of New South Wales has declared a week-long state of emergency in response to the escalating bushfire threat.

High temperatures and strong winds are forecast for the weekend, leading to "widespread extreme fire danger" in the eastern Australian state.

Since September, bushfires have killed 18 people and destroyed more than 1,200 homes across NSW and Victoria.

At least 17 people remain missing after fires this week alone.

Thousands of people are already fleeing a vast "tourist leave zone" in NSW, with supplies running low in some cut-off towns. It's been called "the largest relocation out of the region ever".

Source: BBC

BDST: 1422 HRS, JAN 02, 2020
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