SYDNEY: Firefighters were tackling bushfires that destroyed homes in the city of Perth amid a rare spring heatwave in Western Australia, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 40°C on Thursday.
Ten homes have already been destroyed, residents evacuated and several firefighters injured tackling the blaze in the city’s northern suburbs, Western Australia deputy premier Rita Saffioti told a news conference.
“Today will be a difficult day for everybody involved, but again I want to thank all of those who have done so much to keep damage to a minimum,” she said.
“It is important to note that their efforts have ensured that there has been no loss of human life.”
Authorities said they planned to open a Covid quarantine centre that had gone unused during the pandemic to house those made homeless by the fires.