Millions of Australians Brace for ‘Catastrophic’ Bushfire Conditions Amid Ongoing Drought

Millions of Australians Brace for ‘Catastrophic’ Bushfire Conditions Amid Ongoing Drought
Commuters wait for a ferry as smoke from bushfires shrouds the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, on Nov. 12, 2019. Jonathan Barrett/Reuters
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SYDNEY—Residents across a wide swath of Australia’s east coast were bracing for “catastrophic” conditions on Tuesday, with searing heat and high winds expected to fan scores of already burning bushfires, threatening residential areas.

Millions of people across two states are subject to a seven-day state of emergency that was imposed by officials on Monday. Locals in areas deemed most at risk are urged to evacuate before the worst hits.