Bush fires approach the Australian city of Sydney. The suburbs are already affected according to the authorities, clouds of smoke have reached the city. Aerial photos showed flames eating through a eucalyptus forest in Turramurra on Sydney's north coast. The area is only 15 kilometers from the city center.
For days it burns in the state of New South Wales. At least three people died and thousands were forced to flee. More than 150 houses burned down.
The fire department warned of "catastrophic fire hazard" - a risk level that applies for the first time in the state. The combination of unusually long drought, strong wind, low humidity and high temperatures makes the situation threatening.
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Bush fires in Australia: smoke over Sydney600 schools were closed throughout New South Wales. This has ordered the education authority to assist the fire department in the fight against the advancing fires. Gladys Berejiklian, the head of the state government, renewed her warning to the people to move to safety.
Dozens of fires burned across the state on Tuesday, half of which was out of control, according to the authorities. More than 3000 firefighters are in action. Also in the north adjacent state of Queensland several bushfires were reported.
So far, according to the authorities, an area of just under one million hectares of land is affected. That's ten thousand square kilometers, which is about half of Hesse.
