Australians living close to a major city have been told it is too late to leave as bushfires in the area continue to burn out of control.
Residents were warned on Tuesday afternoon that it was too dangerous to leave the Abernethy area, an hour’s drive from Newcastle, on the NSW central coast.
“A bushfire is burning in the Kearsley area and moving south towards Abernethy,” NSW RFS said in a Twitter post.
“People in the Abernethy area, it’s too late to leave.”
An emergency warning has also been issued across the state, with a notice for the Coolagolite area, on the NSW south coast.
“A bushfire is burning eastwards towards Cuttagee, Barragga Bay and Bermagui,” NSW RFS tweeted.
‘If you are in these areas, you are in danger. Seek shelter as the fire approaches. It’s too late to leave.’
Earlier today at 5.59am, Victoria Emergency warnings were issued for Stockdale, Iguana Creek and Glenaladale between the Princes Highway and Beverleys Road.
Residents were warned on Tuesday that it is too late to leave the Abernethy area, an hour’s drive from Newcastle, in NSW.
Three out-of-control fires fueled by wild weather are raging in the area, destroying at least one home.
This includes Duffy Rd, Briagolong, where residents have been told to seek shelter as it is now too late to evacuate after conditions deteriorated.
Bushfire warnings have also been issued south of the border in NSW, with a total fire ban in place throughout the Greater Sydney and Hunter regions, Far South Coast, Northern Slopes, North Western, Upper Central West Plains, Lower Central West Plains and Central Ranges . .
“Extreme and high fire danger is forecast across NSW,” said a warning from the NSW Rural Fire Service.
It comes as dozens of fires rage across Victoria and NSW, with hot and windy conditions forecast for much of south-eastern Australia.
Authorities say the fire front in the Gippsland region doubled in size overnight.
The emergency level bushfire on Duffy Rd, Briagolong, is rapidly approaching the Princes Highway, with high winds increasing the speed of the fire.
Residents of Briagolong, Cobbannah, Culloden, Moornapa and Woolenook have been told it is now too late to leave.
“This fire threatens homes and lives,” the latest alarm reads.
“It’s too late to leave the area safely, so you need to take shelter now.”
Authorities in Victoria will be on high alert for the next 24 hours. In the photo, the Gippsland region is shrouded in smoke
You are in danger and must act immediately to survive. Leaving now would be fatal.”
Residents of Loch Sport and Seacombe have also received similar warnings.
“Firefighters have been unable to stop the fire and it has now crossed the Longford-Loch Sport Road and is moving towards the south-east,” the alert said.
At least one house was destroyed in Briagolong on Monday.
The wild winds of a predicted cold front have made firefighting more difficult.
The largest fire front covers 5,000 hectares of difficult terrain north of Maffra in the Briagolong, Culloden, Moornapa and Stockdale regions.
A large mass of Victoria, from Marysville in the Yarra Valley to the NSW border, is also under a ‘watch and act’ warning.