In Pictures

In Pictures: Australians ordered to flee raging wildfires

Residents and tourists in parts of Queensland ordered to get out of way of fast-approaching blazes.

The Sydney Opera House is seen as smoke haze from bushfires drifts over the CDB in Sydney, Australia, November 12, 2019. AAP Image/Paul Braven/via REUTERS — A view of the Sydney Opera House as smoke haze from the bushfires drifts over the city. [Paul Braven/AAP Image via Reuters]

Australian officials on Wednesday ordered residents and tourists to get out of the way of fast-approaching flames as firefighters struggled to contain more than 150 bushfires raging on both the east and west coasts.

While cooler weather overnight brought some relief for firefighters in the state of New South Wales (NSW), of which Sydney is the capital, attention shifted to its northern neighbour, Queensland, where more than 80 fires threatened lives and homes.

Authorities have issued a “leave immediately” warning, the highest level, for several areas including Noosa, a beachside holiday destination 150 kilometres (93 miles) north of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland.

“We’re expecting people to listen to the warnings and work on their bushfire survival plans and, if in doubt, now is the time to leave,” said Greg Christensen, mayor for the Scenic Rim regional council in Queensland.

“This is a very challenging season,” Christensen told reporters. “You haven’t had bushfires like these bushfires before.”

The fires have sparked increasingly acrimonious debate over climate and fire-prevention policies, with the ruling conservative Liberal Party and the minor opposition Australian Greens exchanging barbs.

satellite photo taken by NASA shows hot, dry and windy weather conditions as bushfires burn in the eastern part of News South Wales state. Hundreds of schools were closed and residents were urged to e — A satellite photo showing hot, dry and windy weather conditions as fires burn in the eastern part of the state of News South Wales. [NASA via AP]

A Rural NSW Fire Service plane drops fire retardent on an out of control bushfire near Taree, 350km north of Sydney on November 12, 2019. - A state of emergency was declared on November 11, 2019 and r — Residents in the Sydney area were warned this week of 'catastrophic' fire danger. A state of emergency was also declared. [Peter Parks/AFP]

A bushfire burns outside a property near Taree, 350km north of Sydney on November 12, 2019. - A state of emergency was declared on November 11, 2019 and residents in the Sydney area were warned of "ca — A bushfire burns outside a property near Taree, 350 kilometres (217 miles) north of Sydney. [Peter Parks/AFP]

Sharnie Moren and her 18-month-old daughter Charlotte look on as thick smoke rises from bushfires near Nana Glen, near Coffs Harbour, Australia, November 12, 2019. AAP Image/Dan Peled/via REUTERS — Sharnie Moren and her 18-month-old daughter Charlotte look on as thick smoke rises from the fires near Nana Glen, Coffs Harbour. [Dan Peled/AAP Image via Reuters]

A Tuncurry fire crew member fights part of the Hillville bushfire south of Taree, in the Mid North Coast region of NSW, Australia, November 12, 2019. AAP Image/Darren Pateman/via REUTERS — Firefighters struggle to contain more than 150 bushfires raging on both the east and west coasts. [Darren Pateman/AAP Image via Reuters]

Residents defend a property from a bushfire at Hillsville near Taree, 350km north of Sydney on November 12, 2019. - A state of emergency was declared on November 11 and residents in the Sydney area we — Residents defend a property from a bushfire in Hillsville. The fires have sparked increasingly acrimonious debate over climate and fire-prevention policies. [Peter Parks/AFP]

A burnt-out structure stands on a property devastated by bushfires at Coutts Crossing, New South Wales, 13 November 2019. NEw South Wales remains in a state of emergency as a change in wind direction — Property devastated by bushfires at Coutts Crossing, New South Wales. [Jason O'Brien/EPA]

A resident fights a grass fire in the Hillville area near Taree, NSW, Australia, November 13, 2019. AAP Image/Dean Lewins/via REUTERS — Bushfires are a common and deadly threat in Australia's dry summers, but the ferocity and early arrival of this outbreak in the southern hemisphere spring has caught many by surprise. [Dean Lewins/AAP Image via Reuters]

A fire truck is seen near a bushfire in Nana Glen, near Coffs Harbour, Australia, November 12, 2019. AAP Image/Dan Peled/via REUTERS — Blazes have been spurred by extremely dry conditions after three years of drought in parts of New South Wales and Queensland. [Dan Peled/AAP Image via Reuters]