Thousands of people have fled to a beach in Victoria, Australia to escape bushfires racing towards the coast.
Locals in Mallacoota have described a “terrifying experience” of camping on wharves and boarding boats under blood-red skies.
Officials confirmed another two people have been killed by fires in New South Wales (NSW) – there are now 12 deaths linked to the fire crisis.
Authorities say four people are missing in Victoria and another in NSW.
The bodies of the latest victims – believed to be a father and son – were found in the town of Corbargo in NSW, which was hit by a massive blaze on Tuesday.
“Very tragic set of circumstances,” said NSW police deputy commissioner Gary Worboys. “[They were] obviously trying to do their best with the fire as it came through in the early hours of the morning.”
In Mallacoota, the local fire service said a change in wind direction had taken the worst of the fires away from the town.
“I understand there was a public cheer down at the jetty when that was announced,” said chief officer Steve Warrington.
Locals were left sheltering on the beach at Mallacoota on Tuesday morning
More than a dozen “emergency-level” blazes span a 500km (310 miles) stretch across two Australian states – from Batemans Bay in New South Wales (NSW) to Bairnsdale in Victoria.
Several holiday spots along the coast have been cut off and the main road in the region – the Princes Highway – has been closed.
