Three people missing, 100 homes destroyed by Western Australia bushfire
- 8 years ago
An major bushfire in western Australia destroyed nearly 100 homes and left three people unaccounted for as it tore through a small rural town south of Perth, emergency officials said on Friday.
"I believe we've had what I would suggest are catastrophic losses within Yarloop," said Wayne Gregson, Western Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner.
The bushfire, which had already razed 53,000 hectares of land this week, ripped through Yarloop on Thursday night, population just 545, fanned by blustery hot winds.
Around 95 homes were destroyed, along with the post office, shops and the town's fire station, said local media.
The bushfire continues to threaten other beef producing Western Australian towns, emergency workers said.
"I believe we've had what I would suggest are catastrophic losses within Yarloop," said Wayne Gregson, Western Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner.
The bushfire, which had already razed 53,000 hectares of land this week, ripped through Yarloop on Thursday night, population just 545, fanned by blustery hot winds.
Around 95 homes were destroyed, along with the post office, shops and the town's fire station, said local media.
The bushfire continues to threaten other beef producing Western Australian towns, emergency workers said.