Blaze fanned by strong winds destroys up to 70 properties but no one reported missing so far

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Tathra on the New South Wales far south coast has been left devastated after a fast-moving bushfire ripped through dozens of homes and businesses.



It is feared up to 70 properties, including a popular caravan park, were destroyed in the blaze that broke out on Sunday. The fire, fanned by very strong winds and high temperatures in the state’s east, burned through several kilometres of bushland and crossed a river before it reached the picturesque township.

As the sun rose on Monday, authorities have begun to assess the area.



“Our early indications are that the number of buildings impacted is likely to climb above 70, but we will confirm that with the work of the building impact assessment teams this morning,” RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told Network Seven on Monday.



“We have this awful situation throughout the community of Tathra, where we have damaged buildings, damaged homes, and infrastructure,” he said.

He described the blaze as a “firestorm”.

“It was raining fire embers through the township - there were spot fires starting all throughout the streets of the town,” he told 2GB Radio.

The blaze burned through several kilometres of bushland and crossed a river before reaching the township and is still out of control.

Hundreds of residents in the town, with a population of about 1600, slept in an evacuation centre in Bega.

The NSW Rural Fire Service said the 1,000-hectare blaze was still out of control.

But the threat level was downgraded late on Sunday night after a southerly wind change helped to ease hot conditions.

No one has been reported missing so far. But residents have been traumatised by the speed of the flames, which took barely half an hour to cross the Bega river.

News Breakfast (@BreakfastNews) LIVE first helicopter footage of the devastation in #Tathra after the #nswfires tore through the region - WATCH: https://t.co/MuI8axFbXm pic.twitter.com/Xilq65gzsX

“It’s horrible but it could have been a lot, lot worse,” one resident told the Nine Network on Monday.

Bega Valley’s mayor, Kristy McBain, said about 35 properties had been damaged or destroyed and the town’s roads, water system and sewage treatment plant had also been damaged.

Communication were affected after a mobile phone tower collapsed, making it difficult to determine how many people remained in the town.

“There are no reports of any loss of life, so it will be very much about trying to track these people down,” McBain said.

Hundreds of residents and tourists fled to evacuation centres in Bega and Bermagui, after access to Tathra was cut off, to spend the night waiting for news.

NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) #NSWRFS Building Impact Assessment teams are starting work in #Tathra this morning, inspecting damage from yesterday's fast moving bush fire. A number of homes and other buildings destroyed. How many won't be known for a little while and we're working to let residents back soon.

Assessment teams were due to arrive in the area on early Monday to inspect properties and confirm the damage.

Tathra Beach Motor Village said it had experienced “significant” damage and would be closed until further notice. The blaze tore through its front office and reception area but managers were not able to confirm what other parts had been affected.

“This is a very dire and devastating situation for all involved,” a post on the park’s Facebook page said.

Tathra public school, Bega high school, Tanja public school and Bournda Environmental Education Centre will all be closed on Monday. It was unclear if any have been damaged or destroyed.

The Insurance Council of Australia has declared the fire a “catastrophe”, meaning claims by those affected by the blaze will be given priority.

But the ICA said it was too early to determine the extent of buildings lost or estimate the financial toll.

Temperatures are expected to reach 30C in the Bega region on Tuesday, with light easterly winds in the afternoon.