Australia: Mass evacuations start again as bushfires intensify in southeast region

Australian authorities urged another mass evacuation across the heavily populated southeast region of Australia, as the return of hot weather fanned huge bushfires, threatening several towns and communities. Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews urged communities to be on alert ahead of the extreme conditions. “If you receive instructions to leave, then you must leave,” Andrews said in a televised briefing. “That is the only way to guarantee your safety.” Parts of Kangaroo Island, a wildlife-rich tourist spot off the southeast coast where Prime Minister Scott Morrison made a plea for foreign tourists not to be deterred by the fires, were again evacuated. A third of the island has been destroyed. Thousands have been made homeless and thousands have had to evacuate repeatedly because of the volatility of the fires.