A fast-moving bushfire fanned by hot, strong winds has ravaged the seaside town of Tathra, on the NSW far south coast. About 70 homes and businesses have been destroyed.
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HOW THE DISASTER UNFOLDED:
SATURDAY
- NSW residents warned of dangerous fire conditions for Sunday
SUNDAY
- Total fire bans enforced for more than half the state
- Five bushfires begin burning near Bega, 20km northwest of Tathra
- Fires spread quickly in extremely hot, windy conditions
- One fire begins at Tarraganda, east of Bega, about midday and is soon out of control
- Driven by 50 to 60km/h winds, gusting to 90km/h, it burns towards the coast
- Tracts of bushland are consumed and the fire front reaches the Bega River
- In 30 minutes it jumps the river in two places; within a couple of hours of starting the fire was consuming houses
- Tathra residents are warned it's too late to leave at 5pm as flames take hold on Tathra's northern outskirts
- Tathra was the "epicentre" of the fire, the Rural Fire Service said
- Flying embers set properties alight well ahead of the fire front
- Properties just metres from the shoreline are destroyed
- Spot blazes take hold in the sand dunes and fire ravages the Tathra headland
- A southerly change arrives in the evening and conditions ease
MONDAY
- Early assessment by the Rural Fire Services reveals up to 70 homes and other buildings have been destroyed; figure could rise
- No-one has been reported missing so far; four people treated for smoke inhalation; one woman treated for minor burns, singed hair.
- Many residents remain at an evacuation centre at nearby Bega unable to safely return home
- Fire remains out of control and is burning between Tarraganda and Tathra; one kilometre of fire front still active; crews patrolling Tathra for spotfires
- Flames still affecting one of the main routes into Tathra; Power restored to parts of town but mobile phone coverage is poor due to phone towers collapsing
- Fire has so far burnt more than 1000 hectares; expected to pick up again on Monday afternoon
Australian Associated Press
