Australia's worst bush fires for more than two decades have now claimed at least nine lives. Flames have torn through communities on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia but cooler conditions are beginning to help fire fighters.
This report from Phil Mercer:
Parts of south eastern Australia are among the most fire prone in the world. The ferocity of these outbreaks across the Eyre peninsula has taken the most hardened fire fighters by surprise. An area almost the size of Greater London has been destroyed.
Most of those who died are thought to have been incinerated in their cars as they tried to escape the flames. They've been fuelled by a cocktail of high summer temperatures, gusting winds and tinder dry conditions.
More fires have been reported across South Australia, including in hills near Adelaide. Others are burning in the neighbouring state of Victoria; further north in New South Wales emergency crews have also been placed on alert.
Phil Mercer, BBC News, Sydney
prone
propensas
ferocity
ferocidad
outbreaks
brotes
peninsula
península
most hardened
más fuertes
incinerated
incinerados
cocktail
mezcla, combinación
gusting winds
vientos fuertes y repentinos
tinder dry conditions
Un "tinder box" era lo que se usaba en el pasado en vez de fósforos. Por lo tanto esta expresión significa que el terreno está tan seco que muy facilmente puede prenderse fuego.
placed on alert
alertadas
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