Dramatic live footage has revealed the terrifying moment a family farm was encircled by flames as catastrophic bushfires continue to ravage the Australian state of Victoria.
Family Flees as Inferno Closes In
Jane Homewood and her son Jack were forced to make a desperate evacuation from their property in the town of Ruffy, located approximately 175 kilometres north of Melbourne. The urgent escape occurred on Thursday as an out-of-control blaze bore down on their land, with video capturing the fire's relentless advance.
Community Struck 'Like a Bomb'
The ferocious firefront has left a trail of destruction in and around the township, with multiple homes and community buildings reduced to ashes. Local reports describe the fire's impact as hitting the community 'like a bomb'. Three residents remain unaccounted for in the aftermath, with emergency services conducting urgent searches amidst the dangerous conditions.
State of Emergency and Ongoing Threat
The situation remains critical across Victoria, with authorities battling several out-of-control blazes under catastrophic weather warnings. The scale of the destruction is still being assessed, but the loss of property in Ruffy is already significant. The event has drawn stark comparisons to previous devastating wildfire seasons, highlighting the increasing intensity of Australia's bushfire crisis.
Emergency services continue to work tirelessly on containment lines, while communities across the region remain on high alert for further evacuations. The focus remains on locating the missing individuals and preventing further loss of life and property as the fire danger period continues.
