澳洲C-130運輸機噴灑滅火劑。(湯森路透)
澳洲大火延燒至今已月餘,非但不見熄滅之勢,反倒讓消防人員持續疲於奔命,境內許多野生動物也慘遭祝融奪走生命。
當地23日下午,一架負責救火的C-130運輸機在起飛後不幸失事墜毀於新南威爾士州(New South Wales state)大雪山和莫納羅地區(Snowy Monaro region),機上3人悉數罹難,據悉,3名死者身分均為美國籍。
B.C.-based Coulson Aviation C-130 crashes in Australia https://t.co/qZEwGBqnHC
— Victoria News (@VictoriaNews) January 23, 2020
該州州長貝爾姬格莉安(Gladys Berejiklian)對此沉痛的表示遺憾,她也向前投入撲滅大火的1700餘名義消致上最高的敬意。
Heartbreaking & devastating news that three US residents who were crew members operating a LAT in the Snowy Mountains region have lost their lives. Our thoughts & heartfelt condolences are with their families & the tight knit firefighting community. pic.twitter.com/fQ5gphfm6A
— Gladys Berejiklian (@GladysB) January 23, 2020
此外,受到大火濃煙的影響,澳洲首都坎培拉機場(Canberra Airport )已宣布停止所有班機起降,機場提醒要前往澳洲的旅客在搭機前向航空公司進行確認。
據悉,目前在坎培拉機場便可看到大火的煙塵,機場目前僅開放給負責滅火的消防人員使用。