Australia bushfires latest: Three missing as ‘catastrophic’ wildfires hit Victoria town ‘like a bomb’
Three people, including a child, are missing after bushfires tore through parts of Victoria under “catastrophic” conditions, destroying homes and forcing emergency warnings across south-eastern Australia.
Around 40 fires were burning across Victoria, driven by a severe heatwave and damaging winds, as extreme heat and strong winds fuelled dangerous fire behaviour.
Several properties have been destroyed, and police said a man, woman and child remain unaccounted for after a house burned down in Longwood East.
Fire officials warned the situation could worsen, with dozens of towns under threat. Victoria and South Australia were placed on high alert, with total fire bans declared and large areas given “catastrophic” or “extreme” fire danger ratings – the most severe warning level.
Describing the damage from Longwood fire, Country Fire Authority captain George Noye told ABC Radio:“The town’s been impacted severely. The main street looks like a bomb’s gone off.”
Authorities urged residents in fire-prone areas to leave immediately, warning that staying could cost lives.
