Bushfires Rage Throughout South-Eastern Australia

Several properties were destroyed by bushfires in Australia on Sunday after a series of lightning strikes resulted in upto 19 fires that ripped    through eastern Victoria.

RELATED:
California Fires, Hurricane Michael 2018's Costliest Disasters

According to Reuters, rural townships were evacuated with no reported injuries or deaths, but three properties were lost by noon on Sunday. Another two properties were destroyed by another fire at Budgeree and Yinnar South.

Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said that more than 850 fire-fighters, working with over 100 trucks and aircraft, battled the fire.

An associated wind change would bring danger for fire-fighters, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology has said. The Guardian reported early  Monday that "gusty and erratic" winds are due to arrive in the region this coming Wednesday.

One of the evacuated residents told local media that, "it's frightening, it's a monster, it is ravenous and scary."

Kiery-Anne Clissold said, "It is a really hard decision to leave your home. Everything is going to burn, we don't know if we're burnt out. No-one inside knows whether they have a home to go to. They've got their pets, we've got a few little valuables with us. You don't even know what to take."

Meanwhile, Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp told reporters, ""So again, it's a dangerous time, putting it bluntly. Not just for communities, but for fire-fighters, and we're very conscious of the safety of our fire-fighters and we will well and truly message in relation to that."

According to the Guardian, "evacuation centres have been set up in Pakenham and Koo Wee Rup for residents affected by the fire which started in Bunyip state park on Friday and has burned through more than 12,000 hectares, towards the townships of Bunyip, Longwarry and Nar Nar Goon."