Australia: Residents of various communities in Western Australia have been warned that it is too late to evacuate as a significant bushfire continues to threaten the area. On Friday morning, the WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) issued an emergency alert for the coastal town of Cervantes, located 170 km north of Perth, urging residents to seek shelter from the advancing fire.
The alert emphasized the imminent danger, stating, “You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes,” and noted that evacuation routes have been compromised, making it unsafe to leave at this point.
Hundreds of firefighters and aerial water bombing crews are actively battling the blaze, which began following a car accident on Monday and has scorched over 65,000 hectares. Authorities have cautioned that forecasted hot weather and strong winds could hinder containment efforts further.
Roads, schools, and hospitals in Cervantes and the surrounding region are currently closed, and two firefighters have been injured in the effort to control the fire, one of whom was airlifted to a hospital but is in stable condition.