A drop in temperature and rain showers have brought hope of a respite from bushfires that have ravaged three Australian states, claiming lives and destroying almost 2, 000 homes.
Soaring temperatures and strong winds fanned fires inNew South Wales, Victoria and South Australiaon Saturday, forcing thousands to flee and bringing flames to the suburban fringes of Sydney.
Thousands of firefighters fought to contain the blazes but many continued to burn out of control, threatening to wipe out rural townships and causing almost incalculable damage to property and wildlife.
The latest fatality occurred at Batlow in New South Wales, where a -year-old man died while defending the home of a friend from encroaching fires.
State police said he was found unconscious in a vehicle and could not be revived.
Earlier on Saturday, a father and son who were battling flames for two days died on a highway on Kangaroo Island, off South Australia state.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison told a news conference on Sunday: “It’s been another difficult night across Australia, in particular in New South Wales and Victoria and in South Australia, with the confirmation of another life lost.
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