Australia fires : Strong winds hamper efforts to control flames

Strong winds that have changed direction are hampering efforts by firefighters to contain bushfires in Australia’s south-east.

Officials said a southerly change with powerful gusts up to 80mph threatened to spread huge fires raging in New South Wales (NSW).

Army helicopters have been deployed in the neighboring state of Victoria, to evacuate people trapped by the flames. Since September, fires in Australia have killed at least 23 people.

More than 1,200 homes have been destroyed and millions of hectares of land scorched. Although much attention has centered on worst-hit NSW, every state and territory has been affected.