CANBERRA: Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate their homes and three people are missing amid an ongoing bushfire crisis in the southeast Australian state of Victoria.
Authorities said that there were 30 active bushfires burning across Victoria as of Friday and that they are expected to be unpredictable, uncontrollable, and fast-moving due to catastrophic conditions, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius exacerbated by strong winds.
Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Bob Hill said at a press conference alongside emergency service personnel and the state Premier, Jacinta Allan, that three people are missing, Xinhua News Agency reported.