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Two dead as blaze rages across South Australia

Thursday, 26 November 2015 11:08 AM [ Last Update: Thursday, 26 November 2015 11:10 AM ]

The picture shows the aftermath of the fire, which tore through 900 square kilometers of land north of the Australian city of Adelaide on November 25, 2015.

At least two people have been killed in a massive bushfire raging across the northern areas of the South Australia (SA) state.

Thirteen other people were hospitalized, with five being in critical condition, as the fast-moving flames tore through 900 square kilometers (347 square miles) of land north of Adelaide on Wednesday night.

On Thursday, South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill described the bushfire as “horrific,” adding, “It’s an awful thing to imagine. People dying in such circumstances.”

The blaze, fanned by strong winds, left a trail of destruction as firemen continue to bring it under control. Many homes have been destroyed and thousands of farm animals have been charred.

The SA Country Fire Service (CFS) warned that the fires could continue for several days. Officials expect up to 400 firefighters would continue work for two or three days to extinguish the fire, the cause of which has not been determined yet.

About 2,500 residents were evacuated from the fire zone.

Wildfires are common in Australia’s summer months between December and February. In 2009, a firestorm, dubbed “Black Saturday,” killed over 170 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes in the state of Victoria alone.

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