A bushfire raging out of control near Australia’s fourth-biggest city Perth has destroyed at least 71 homes.
Authorities on Wednesday said they told residents to ignore a virus lockdown and evacuate threatened areas.
The blaze has torn through large swathes of land in the Perth Hills and was moving towards more densely populated areas.
No deaths or serious injuries have been reported so far.
“To the people who have lost their homes, it’s just devastating for them. Our thoughts go out to them,” Western Australian fire commissioner Darren Klemm said.
Several emergency warnings were issued with conditions set to worsen later Wednesday and strong gusting winds expected to fan the flames.
As the fire-front moved west toward more populated areas, Mr. Klemm called on locals to act swiftly to escape the potentially deadly blaze.
