A sexagenarian died amid the ongoing bushfire crisis in Australia's Victoria. A state of disaster has now been declared.
Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan said at a press conference that a man aged in his 60s was found deceased in his car near the town of Harcourt, 110 km northwest of Melbourne, on Friday afternoon.
News agency Xinhua in a report said that the person's death was not directly linked to the fires but occurred in the vicinity of a fire ground.
Meanwhile, three other people who went missing on Friday near Longwood town were found safe. Reportedly, three firefighters have been injured while dousing the flames.
State of disaster declared
For 19 areas, the state government has declared a state of disaster. The firefighting authorities have been given emergency powers to enter private properties as a measure to control the flames and force evacuations, if needed.
State premier Jacinta Allan said, "It's all about one thing: protecting Victorian lives. And it sends one clear message: if you have been told to leave, go."
In a media conference from Melbourne, she said, "Where we can, fires will be being brought under control," Allan said in a televised media conference from Melbourne."
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Fires raging across Victoria
As of Saturday morning, as many as 200 fires were bringing across Victoria, said Allan while adding that another 20 were being monitored by the authorities. These fires are believed to have raised the temperature to over 40 degree Celsius, stated Allan.
More than 3,00,000 hectares of land and over 38,000 homes have been gutted.
