Residents in three areas in Australia's northern Queensland state were ordered to evacuate their homes this morning as bushfires burned out of control.
Firefighters including those flown in from across Australia and New Zealand have been battling blazes in the state that have already killed two and destroyed dozens of homes.
People in two adjacent areas, near the town of Dalveen, were ordered to evacuate immediately.
"Every Australian's heart goes out to the people ... who are being impacted once again by these bushfires," Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers, whose electorate is in the state, told a news conference.
"I really wanted to express our gratitude as well for all of the people who are reinforcing the efforts in those affected communities."
LEAVE IMMEDIATELY - Dalveen, The Glen, Silverwood, Cherry Gully (near Warwick) - Multiple Warnings - fire as at 10:23am Wednesday, 1 November 2023.
— Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) November 1, 2023
For all current warnings, updates and mapping go to https://t.co/vqyJTUPBhe. pic.twitter.com/ixC5OSZYhm
The blazes in the area also affected the neighbouring state of New South Wales (NSW) to the south.
"It was a pretty horrifying experience," NSW resident Michelle Balint told state broadcaster ABC.
Recounting a wall of flames racing across the family's land, she said: "(We've) never seen anything like it."
Authorities imposed a third evacuation warning in the far north of the state, near Watsonville.
Firefighters toiled through the night to repel bushfires on the border between the two states.
More than 50 houses have now been razed by a separate blaze on Queensland's Western Downs -- one of Australia's most vital food bowls.
"It was a really shocking day for firefighters and residents on both sides of the border," NSW fire chief Rob Rogers told Sky News.
Aerial fire service footage showed cars fleeing as a fire front swept towards Wallangarra yesterday evening, a rural town of about 500 people that is about three hours' drive south from Queensland's capital Brisbane.
Senior Queensland firefighter Mike Wassing said hot and dry winds were starting to die down, allowing some towns to focus on "relief and recovery".
But Mr Wassing told ABC that some bushfires were "still very volatile and somewhat unstable".
Rain forecast over the weekend is expected to help douse some of the fires.
Australia is facing its most intense bushfire season since 2019-2020, when a series of out-of-control infernos raged across the eastern seaboard.
In September, the national weather bureau confirmed that an El Nino weather pattern was under way, bringing soaring temperatures that risked a severe wildfire season and drought.
