Australian bushfires to get worse and travel warning issued over catastrophic blazes
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Strong winds and soaring temperatures have created "catastrophic" conditions in Australia where firefighters are battling more than 100 bushfires.
One person was found dead inside a fire zone near Adelaide in South Australia on Saturday, two days after two volunteer firefighters were killed by a falling tree in the country's most populous state of New South Wales (NSW).
Around three million hectares (7.4 million acres) of land has burned across the country during a harsh bushfire season which has killed nine people and destroyed more than 800 homes.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison was forced to apologise for going on a family holiday to Hawaii during the crisis. He said he would cut his holiday short and was expected to return to Sydney on Saturday.
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Authorities have urged Christmas travellers to delay their journeys as conditions threaten to intensify the bushfire crisis.
Rising temperatures and strong winds are expected to worsen fires across three states on Saturday.
Three blazes around Sydney are burning at emergency level.
"We are asking everybody not to travel on roads anywhere near the vicinity of an active fire unless you absolutely have to," Gladys Berejiklian, premier of NSW, said at a news conference.
A combination of temperatures above 40C, low humidity and strong winds have worsened the struggle for the almost 10,000 emergency personnel mobilised to deal with the bushfires in NSW.
"They are the very worst of conditions. Given we have a landscape with so much active fire burning, you have a recipe for very serious concern and a very dangerous day," NSW Rural Fire Services Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said.
Two volunteer firefighters died on Thursday as they were tackling a large blaze near Sydney. Fires have also been ravaging the states of Victoria and South Australia, where two civilians died on Friday.
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The states of NSW and and South Australia are the focus of the travel warnings.
In NSW, several major roads and highways have been closed, including a section of the Princes Highway.
As of 16:30 (05:12 GMT), 24 roads and highways in NSW were affected by fire, according to a government website.
Roads have been closed in South Australia as well, with residents asked to monitor the government traffic website for updates.
"If members of the public attempt to enter the areas, they will be turned away, regardless of being property owners or business owners, due to specific safety reasons," a police official said.
EMERGENCY WARNING - Gospers Mountain Fire (Hawkesbury and Lithgow LGAs)
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) December 21, 2019
Fire continues to burn below the Bells Line of Road. The southerly change is due to impact this fire within coming hours. Video shows the fire approaching the Fruit Bowl along Bells Line Of Road, Bilpin. pic.twitter.com/0gvSEgsayL
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