Hundreds of fires are still burning out of control across the country, destroying millions of hectares, killing 18 and leaving at least 1,200 homes destroyed, with catastrophic 46C weather conditions forecast for Saturday.
A Navy ship that delivered emergency supplies to Haiti following the 2010 earthquake has left Sydney and is expected to reach the waters off the fire-stricken town of Mallacoota, Victoria on Thursday.
HMAS Choules will provide relief to 4,000 people who remain stranded in the seaside town after it was devastated by bushfires.
Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said evacuating people onto the ship is 'an option that we're seriously considering'. The ship can carry up to 1,000 at a time.
On New Year's Eve residents and tourists fled to Mallacoota's beach, ready to throw themselves in the water to protect themselves from the flames while the sky turned an apocalyptic red.
There are concerns that the town's water supply has now become contaminated due to the fires, and residents have been told to boil water until it can be tested...<<<Read The Full Article Here>>>...
