Tourists REFUSE to evacuate Australian wine region before bushfires cut off the last road out

More than 30,000 tourists in Australia who refused to evacuate the Australian state of Victoria amid raging bushfires are now ‘trapped’ after locals warned that staying would be ‘suicide’.

Temperatures of more than 104F, strong winds, thunderstorms and a wind change moving across the state meant Monday would be one of extreme danger, authorities said.

Emergencies chief Andrew Crisp told both residents and tens of thousands of holidaymakers in the East Gippsland region to leave no later than Monday morning.

‘What we are saying now, based on the conditions that will be confronting us tomorrow across the state, but in particular in East Gippsland, is that if you’re holidaying in that part of the state, it’s time that you left,’ Crisp said at a media conference on Sunday.

‘We are asking you to now leave East Gippsland from that area east of Bairnsdale,’ Crisp said, referring to a city 174 miles east of Melbourne.

‘You should not be there tomorrow and we want you to get out now.’

About 30,000 tourists as well as 45,000 locals were told to leave on Sunday in what would be one of the biggest mass evacuations in Australia’s history.

Incident controller Ben Rankin from the Gippsland region likened the conditions to that of Black Saturday in 2009, when 180 people died.  

The fire front is approaching areas in East Gippsland and is expected to worsen on Monday

The fire has burned through much of the bushland and has offered no indication of slowing down (pictured is an aerial view of the Gippsland fires taken on December 29)

The fire has burned through much of the bushland and has offered no indication of slowing down (pictured is an aerial view of the Gippsland fires taken on December 29)

Emergencies chief Andrew Crisp told both residents and tens of thousands of holidaymakers in the East Gippsland region to leave no later than Monday morning

Emergencies chief Andrew Crisp told both residents and tens of thousands of holidaymakers in the East Gippsland region to leave no later than Monday morning

Temperatures of more than 104F, strong winds, thunderstorms and a wind change moving across the state meant Monday would be one of extreme danger, authorities said

Temperatures of more than 104F, strong winds, thunderstorms and a wind change moving across the state meant Monday would be one of extreme danger, authorities said

Local retailer Richard Darby said choosing to ignore the warnings ‘could be suicide’. 

‘It’s going to be a very bad day tomorrow, they are telling everyone to get out while they can,’ Mr Darby told The Herald Sun.

Emergency services have warned the Princes Highway – which is the only access road to many of the seaside suburbs – could close with a moment’s notice in the morning.

The road closed and opened again on Sunday night, but Vic Emergency warned people should not expect it to remain open on Monday. 

East Gippsland Mayor John White said bushland in the region was bone dry after three years of drought. 

‘Hopefully people heed the messages. You can rebuild homes, sheds and fences but life is irreplaceable,’ he said. 

But many are taking little notice of the warnings.  

Managers at holiday parks within the East Gippsland region, particularly at the Lakes Entrance, said most of their customers were opting to stay and had taken a relaxed approach.

‘We know that some people have left, others are staying,’ Iain Podd, who remains at a holiday park on the edge of the fire zone, told The Australian. 

Some tourists said they've been sent 'mixed signals' after receiving texts urging them to leave immediately, but later being told by motel staff they were safe

Some tourists said they’ve been sent ‘mixed signals’ after receiving texts urging them to leave immediately, but later being told by motel staff they were safe

A koala drinks water from a bottle given by a firefighter in Cudlee Creek, South Australia. Thousands of koalas are feared to have died in a wildfire-ravaged area north of Sydney

A koala drinks water from a bottle given by a firefighter in Cudlee Creek, South Australia. Thousands of koalas are feared to have died in a wildfire-ravaged area north of Sydney

‘The receptionist here has told us that the direction of the wind means we won’t be affected. But of course we will move on if the situation changes.’

Michael Smits, who manages the Big 4 Whiters Holiday Village at Lakes Entrance, said just six of the 67 groups staying there had evacuated.  

‘Many people are saying that they’re going to hang about town, go to a cafe, perhaps go to the beach or wander up and down The Esplanade. There’s certainly no panic,’ he said.

Others said they have chosen to stay put because a mass evacuation would cause chaos on the roads.

‘Thirty, forty thousand people onto the Princess Highway at once. That’s just chaos – an accident waiting to happen. Emergency services couldn’t keep up – and neither could the road,’ one holidaymaker told Seven News.

Meanwhile, other tourists said they were sent ‘mixed signals’ after receiving texts urging them to leave immediately, but later being told by motel staff they were safe.

One woman who shared the confusion to Twitter was encouraged to evacuate and said she was given a three-night refund by the motel management.

‘You won’t be able to sue the motel for the bad advice if you’re dead,’ one person wrote in response to her questioning whether she should leave. 

In Victoria, emergency services cannot force people to leave their homes or residences. 

Firefighters have been battling blazes in the region for weeks. This picture was uploaded last Sunday after a day of battling blazes

Firefighters have been battling blazes in the region for weeks. This picture was uploaded last Sunday after a day of battling blazes

The blacked out circle shows the area from which authorities were urging people to evacuate on Sunday

The blacked out circle shows the area from which authorities were urging people to evacuate on Sunday

A desperate koala flags down a cyclist and sips water from her bottle as temperatures soar in Australia, which is being devastated by bush fires

A desperate koala flags down a cyclist and sips water from her bottle as temperatures soar in Australia, which is being devastated by bush fires

This bushfire season has already taken nine leaves and destroyed more than 1,000 properties along much of the east coast of Australia.

The blazes have shown no sign of slowing down.  

Temperatures across Victoria on Monday are predicted to soar past 40C, which combined with hot, dry winds could fuel the fire and push it further toward at-risk communities.  

Three significant fires are still burning within East Gippsland – near Bruthen, Buchan and Bonang – but authorities predict each of these could spread by morning.  

Victorian authorities have told tourists in Lakes Entrance (pictured) to leave now due to wild bushfires in East Gippsland

Victorian authorities have told tourists in Lakes Entrance (pictured) to leave now due to wild bushfires in East Gippsland

Firefighters tackling a blaze in Gippsland. Catastrophic fire conditions are forecast for Monday, leading Victorian authorities to warn holiday makers to evacuate immediately

Firefighters tackling a blaze in Gippsland. Catastrophic fire conditions are forecast for Monday, leading Victorian authorities to warn holiday makers to evacuate immediately

Bureau of Meteorology Kevin Parkyn said a wind change in East Gippsland at about midnight is ‘very problematic when it comes to fires and the landscape’.

‘It’s a very serious life-threatening situation. Make no mistake about it,’ he said. 

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews posted a Tweet urging tourists to leave.

‘If you are in East Gippsland you should leave today while it’s safe to do so,’ Mr Andrews posted.

‘Residents should activate their fire plan and consider staying with friends and family outside the area. If you are visiting, you should leave today. Please DO NOT travel to the area.’ 

'Leave now' warnings have been put in place for parts of Victoria as the weather conditions are predicted to worsen

‘Leave now’ warnings have been put in place for parts of Victoria as the weather conditions are predicted to worsen

The combination of the hot, dry windy conditions coupled with the wind change across the state on Monday will fuel the nasty fire conditions. 

More than 70 helicopters and planes will be working on Monday if conditions allow. 

People in Goongerah and Martins Creek have also been told to evacuate as a bushfire burning easterly towards their communities was still not under control on Sunday. 

A watch and act warning is in place for Goongerah, Martins Creek, Nurran, Sardine Creek and Errinundra, which states ‘leaving now is the safest option’ before conditions change. 

A total fire ban is in place for the entire state of Victoria on Monday. 

Event organisers have advised festival goers not to return to Lorne (pictured) or other coastal towns on the Great Ocean Road as they are facing the same extreme weather conditions

Event organisers have advised festival goers not to return to Lorne (pictured) or other coastal towns on the Great Ocean Road as they are facing the same extreme weather conditions

The extreme weather conditions forced Falls Festival in Lorne to cancel the remainder of the acts.

About 9,000 festivalgoers were sent home as the region braces for severe weather, including winds up to 100km/h and storms.

In a statement on Sunday morning, festival organisers Secret Sounds said conditions posed a risk to health and safety.

‘It is with a heavy heart we have had to cancel the remaining days of The Falls Festival in Lorne due to the predicted extreme weather conditions forecast for Monday December 30th in the Otways and surrounding region, creating a risk to health and safety due to potential fires, smoke, severe winds and tree hazards. 

‘The decision has not been made lightly, our patron and staff safety is our priority,’ the statement said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who was in Sydney announcing compensation for NSW volunteers on the fire grounds, said other states were also on his mind.

‘We are seeing a real difficult situation emerging in Victoria where we know of the weather conditions particularly changing over the next few days,’ he said on Sunday.

‘I want to assure Australians outside New South Wales … our attention is equally there and ensuring the coordinated effort across states and territories is being put in place.’ 

A 'severe' heatwave sweeping across Australia is expected over the New Year period. Pictured: National forecast for Monday, with light purple meaning 45C and red 28C

A ‘severe’ heatwave sweeping across Australia is expected over the New Year period. Pictured: National forecast for Monday, with light purple meaning 45C and red 28C

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