An ‘unprecedented’ state of disaster has been declared in Victoria, giving the government special powers to deal with the regions devastating bushfire crisis. Premier Daniel Andrews made the announcement on Thursday evening after a week-long state of emergency was declared in New South Wales. ‘If you can leave, then you must leave,’ Mr Andrews said. It is the first time the powers, which will allow forced evacuations and give emergency services the right to takeover properties, have been used. The state of disaster is will last for seven days, according to Police Minister Lisa Neville. It comes as a second person was confirmed dead in Victoria’s East Gippsland taking the official death toll from this year’s bushfire season to 18. The man’s body was located a family property in Maraningo Creek, near Genoa, at about 8.30pm on Wednesday. A total of 17 people are still missing in Victoria and the death toll is expected to rise. Scroll down for video Tourists and residents have been told to evacuate a 250km stretch of the New South Wales south coast (pictured) as devastating bushfires threaten the area, along with an area of the Shoalhaven between Burrill Lake north and Nowra The first recovery boat… Read full this story
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State of disaster is declared in Victoria as NSW enters seven-day state of emergency ahead of horror 46C conditions on Saturday when strong winds are expected to spark worst bushfires yet - as death toll rises to 18 have 333 words, post on www.dailymail.co.uk at January 2, 2020. This is cached page on CuBird. If you want remove this page, please contact us.