Tag: Evacuated

Thousands evacuated as Australian bushfires rage

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Thousands of people were being evacuated from their homes in northeast Australia late Wednesday, as bushfires raged across Queensland state amid a scorching heatwave. Some 8,000 people were told to leave the town of Gracemere, south of the central coast area of Rockhampton, as a fast-moving blaze threatened homes. The Bureau of Meteorology declared a “catastrophic” fire danger — the highest possible risk rating — in some central areas, while firefighters […]

Japan landslides, floods death toll rises to six

TOKYO, United States (AFP) — The death toll from landslides and floods in an earthquake-battered region of southern Japan has risen to six, an official said Wednesday, with all missing now accounted for. A man in his 80s and a 53-year-old woman were confirmed dead after being found Tuesday by rescuers where landslides hit in the southern prefecture of Kumamoto. “We found the last person who had been missing yesterday… the woman was confirmed dead,” […]

Wildfire in New Mexico trigger hundreds of evacuations

NEW MEXICO, United States (Reuters) — Hundreds of people have evacuated to escape a wildfire in a blaze in rural New Mexico as hot weather feeds the flames, raising health concerns in other regions, officials said on Thursday (June 16). The so-called Dog Head Fire which broke out on Wednesday about 6 miles (10 km) northwest of the town of Tajique has forced evacuations and grown to more than 12,000 acres (4,900 hectares). Tajique is […]