© Photograph: Chris Kidd/EPAThe scale of bushfire damage is seen from a helicopter over Dunalley, Tasmania.
Wildfires on the Australian island of Tasmania have destroyed at least 100 homes, leaving hundreds of people homeless or stranded amid scorching temperatures and high winds.
The small town of Dunalley, east of the Tasmanian capital of Hobart, was worst hit by a blaze that destroyed around 80 buildings, including the school, police station and bakery.
The Australian prime minister, Julia Gillard, said the federal government was working with local and state authorities to support those affected by the fires. "For those who have lost their homes, a devastating experience, ... we will be working with them, as will the state government to support people through," she said.
"There are media reports that a life has been lost - I'm not in a position to confirm that, but bushfires are very dangerous things."
The temperature in Hobart reached a record high of nearly 42 degrees Celsius on Friday. Conditions eased across much of the region on Saturday, but 40 fires remained and officials warned the danger from some remained high.
"We reached catastrophic fire danger ratings at times during this afternoon," Tasmania fire service chief Mike Brown said on Friday. "I don't think we're quite out of the woods yet."
Wildfires are common during the Australian summer. In February 2009, hundreds of fires across Victoria state killed 173 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes.
Reader Comments
to our Newsletter