SYDNEY, Australia: Massive New South Wales bush fires have killed at least three people and destroyed over 150 homes by Saturday afternoon.
Over 1,000 firefighters have been deployed to battle the emergency-level ‘five’ blazes and dangerous conditions.
At least 16 firefighters and 19 civilians have been injured so far while battling the massive and unpredictable infernos that engulfed thousands of hectares of land.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said defence personnel were ready to help firefighters battle the bush fires.
As many as 99 fires are raging throughout the south-eastern Australian state, with 57 burning out of control.
New South Wales Rural Fire Services Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons has confirmed at a press conference that at least seven people remain missing.
“[With] dry windy conditions across an already very dry landscape, there is every likelihood that we’ll see fires increase in their alert level,” Fitzsimmons said.
The areas most affected by the fires include Tenterfield, Armidale, Clarence Valley, Port Macquarie, Nambucca and Kempsey.
The fire service has said in a Twitter post that a number of blazes “are becoming more intense” and “more dangerous.”
