Australia fires: Seven Dead and Over 200 Homes Destroyed

Bushfires have killed at least seven people in the Australian state of New South Wales since Monday, say police.

The latest fires, which raced towards the coast this week, have also destroyed more than 200 homes.

Conditions have eased slightly, and a major road that was closed in Victoria was reopened for two hours on Wednesday to allow people to leave.

But many people remain in fire-hit areas - in one town, police dropped off 1.6 tonnes of drinking water by boat.

The seven deaths in New South Wales include:

Local media also reported a further death in Victoria. The deaths brings the total of fire-related fatalities across Australia this season to at least 18, with warnings this could rise.

Of the homes destroyed, 43 were in East Gippsland, Victoria, while another 176 were in New South Wales.

Earlier on Wednesday, New South Wales Rural Fire Service said 916 homes had been destroyed this season, with another 363 damaged, and 8,159 saved.

In Mallacoota, Victoria - where thousands fled to the beach on Tuesday - police boats arrived with 1.6 tonnes of water for residents.

They also brought food, a paramedic and medical supplies.

At the same time, police warned people in Sunbury - around 40km (25 miles) north-west of Melbourne - to leave the area, as an emergency fire warning was in place.

Earlier, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said workers would take advantage of the milder weather on Wednesday to clear roads and restore power.

But she said temperatures were expected to rise again on Saturday.

"At the very least, weather conditions will be at least as bad as what they were yesterday," she said.

The fire service warned they had been unable to reach some people in remote areas.

"We've got reports of injuries and burn injuries to members of the public," said New South Wales rural fire commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.

"We haven't been able to get access via roads or via aircraft - it's been socked in [runways have been closed] or too dangerous."

In Mallacoota, many people spent the night sleeping in their cars or on deck chairs.

Victoria Emergency Commissioner Andrew Crisp said - as well as the police vessels - "a large barge" was sailing from Melbourne to the town with food, water and 30,000 litres of fuel.

In Cann River, a town around 80km (50 miles) inland from Mallacoota, residents warned that food supplies were running low.

Further north in Ulladulla, New South Wales, people were queuing outside supermarkets - while cuts to mobile networks and landlines meant people also waited to use payphones.

The military said amphibious ships were setting off from Sydney and would arrive in fire-hit coastal areas of New South Wales and Victoria by Friday.

Meanwhile, a woman from Mallacoota who took a photo that went viral has spoken about the image.

Allison Marion took the picture of her 11-year-old son, Finn, moving their family to safety in a powerboat.

"Finn drove the boat and my other son looked after the dog in the boat and [I am] very proud of both of them," she told ABC News.

When the family returned to land, as conditions eased, they went to check on their home.

"Our street somehow escaped the fire somehow," she said. "However, I feel for many people in our community who have lost their homes. It's just truly saddening."

FROM bbc.com/news/world-australia