This Nov. 11, 2019, satellite photo taken by NASA shows the weather condition as bushfires burn in the eastern part of New South Wales state. Ferocious wildfires are burning at emergency-level intensity across Australia's most populous state and into Sydney suburbs as authorities warned most populations in their paths that there was no longer time to flee.(NASA via AP)
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CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - More than 50 homes were damaged or destroyed and 13 firefighters were injured overnight by catastrophic wildfires across Australia's most populous state before the emergency subsided on Wednesday, officials said.
At point on Tuesday, 16 fires raged out of control at emergency level simultaneously across New South Wales, a near record number.
There were no fires burning at emergency level early Wednesday, but rain that would quench the fire danger is not forecast for months. Friday experienced similarly intense fires which killed three residents and destroyed more than 150 homes.
State Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was relieved that the destruction on Tuesday had not been worse. A weeklong state of emergency for New South Wales was declared on Monday because of the fire danger, with Tuesday forecast to be the most dangerous day.
"I have to confess to being hugely relieved this morning that yesterday our amazing volunteers and emergency service personnel withstood the catastrophic conditions and did manage to save life and property," Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney.
Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said none of the injured firefighters had been seriously hurt.
This Nov. 9, 2019, satellite photo taken by NASA shows Bushfires still raging in Australia. Ferocious wildfires were burning at emergency-level intensity across Australia's most populous state and into Sydney's suburbs on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019 as authorities warned most people in their paths that there was no longer time to flee. (NASA via AP)
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Locals watch smoke from a large bushfire outside Nana Glen, near Coffs Harbour, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019. Ferocious wildfires were burning at emergency-level intensity across Australia's most populous state on Tuesday as authorities warned most populations in their paths that there was no longer time to flee.(Dan Peled/AAP Images via AP)
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Sydney Opera House is backdropped by haze from wildfires near the city, in Sydney, Australia, Tuesday Nov. 12, 2019. Authorities have declared a state of emergency as ferocious wildfires are burning across Australia's most populous state and into the suburbs of Sydney on Tuesday, with winds carrying embers for kilometers (miles) and igniting new fire spots. (Mette Estep / NTB scanpix via AP)
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