Two found dead after car caught up by Kangaroo Island bushfire
Two people have died in bushfires on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island, authorities have confirmed.
Police confirmed the deaths at a press conference on Saturday morning.
Their vehicle is believed to have been caught up by the flames near Pardana, police said.
No further details were released.
About 100,000 hectares of the island, mainly at the Flinders Chase National Park, has been burnt on the island.
The fire on the island broke out late last month and was burning within containment lines before extreme weather conditions on Friday allowed it to breach the defences, with the fire described as "virtually unstoppable" as it began to spread quickly.
At one stage the entire island was subject to either an emergency warning or a watch and act advice with only the towns of Kingscote and Penneshaw on the east coast considered safe places.
The hundreds of people gathered at the Kingscote community meeting have stood for a minute silence to mark the two tragic deaths during the #KangarooIslandFires @abcadelaide pic.twitter.com/ngoS4V9mnu
— Claire Campbell (@clairehcampbell) January 4, 2020
ABC Adelaide reporter Claire Campbell shared images of hundreds gathered at the Kingscote community meeting, paying their tributes to the two victims with a minute’s silence.
There have been no other reports of people missing and no other injuries but three fire crews endured burn-overs in their trucks.
Their deaths take this bushfire season’s national death toll to 22.
More than 1500 homes have been lost across the country.
There are 17 bushfires burning in South Australia.
While the CFS announced conditions had eased, the main blaze on Kangaroo Island remains out-of-control.
Residents and visitors are being urged to limit non-essential drinking water use.
Many of the island’s main roads have been closed.
Daylight turned to darkness in about 15 seconds as we approached Vivonne Bay on #KangarooIsland. Huge amounts of smoke in the area as fire heads towards the town. Roads are closed and people urged to leave. @abcadelaide pic.twitter.com/L5bS2dc6Sn
— Claire Campbell (@clairehcampbell) January 3, 2020
#Kangaroo_Island Road Closure Map as of 4 January 2020 @ 3.00am. Tier 1 (Red) - Closed - ONLY Emergency Services and Approved Farm Fire Fighting Units pic.twitter.com/7iyqy4OJ57
— Country Fire Service (@CFSAlerts) January 3, 2020
More to come.
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