Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Friday 3 January 2020
Australian prime minister is jeered in wildfire-ravaged zone

By TRISTAN LAVALETTE a 250-kilometer (155-mile)
Associated Press zone. State Transport Min-
PERTH, Australia (AP) — ister Andrew Constance
Prime Minister Scott Mor- called it the "largest mass
rison was confronted by relocation of people out of
angry residents who cursed the region that we've ever
and insulted him Thursday seen."
as he visited a wildfire-rav- New South Wales Premier
aged corner of the coun- Gladys Berejiklian de-
try. clared a seven-day state
Locals in Cobargo, in New of emergency starting Fri-
South Wales, yelled at him, day, which grants fire offi-
made obscene gestures cials more authority. It's the
and called him an "idiot" third state of emergency
and worse, criticizing him for New South Wales in the
for the lack of equipment past two months.
to deal with the fires in "We don't take these de-
town. They jeered as his cisions lightly, but we also
car left. In the New South want to make sure we're
Wales town of Quaama, a taking every single precau-
firefighter refused to shake tion to be prepared for
hands with him. what could be a horrible
"Every single time this area day on Saturday," Berejik-
has a flood or a fire, we get lian said.
nothing. If we were Sydney, The early and devastating
if we were north coast, we In this Monday, Dec. 30, 2019, aerial photo, wildfires rage under plumes of smoke in Bairnsdale, start to Australia's summer
would be flooded with do- Australia. Associated Press wildfires has led authori-
nations with urgent emer- ties to rate this season the
gency relief," a resident es have also been burning to do everything we can day has aided firefighting worst on record. About 5
said in Cobargo. in Western Australia, South to ensure they have every and allowed people to re- million hectares (12.35 mil-
The outpouring of anger Australia and Tasmania. support they will need." plenish supplies, with long lion acres) of land have
came as authorities said "I'm not surprised people Morrison, who has also lines of cars forming at gas burned, at least 17 people
381 homes had been de- are feeling very raw at the been criticized over his cli- stations and supermarkets. have been killed, and more
stroyed on the New South moment. And that's why I mate change policies and But high temperatures and than 1,400 homes have
Wales southern coast this came today, to be here, accused of putting the strong winds are forecast been destroyed.
week. At least eight people to see it for myself, to offer economy ahead of the to return on Saturday, and The crisis "will continue to
have died this week in New what comfort I could," Mor- environment, insisted that thousands of tourists fled go on until we can get
South Wales and the neigh- rison said, adding, "There is Australia is "meeting the the country's eastern coast some decent rain that can
boring state of Victoria. still, you know, some very challenge better than most Thursday ahead of worsen- deal with some of the fires
More than 200 fires are dangerous days ahead. countries" and "exceeding ing conditions. that have been burning for
burning in Australia's two And we understand that, the targets we set out." New South Wales authori- many, many months," the
most-populous states. Blaz- and that's why we're going Cooler weather since Tues- ties ordered tourists to leave prime minister said.q
3 women investigated for causing deadly blaze at German zoo

By GEIR MOULSON several monkeys — were given about the suspects.
Associated Press killed, as well as fruit bats Investigators believe that
BERLIN (AP) — Three wom- and birds. The animals ei- just one lantern started the
en are under investigation ther burned to death or blaze. They found the other
in Germany for launching died from smoke inhala- four later, with handwritten
paper sky lanterns for the tion, authorities said. good wishes for the new
new year which appar- Hoppmann said the wom- year attached.
ently ignited a devastating en had ordered five sky The destroyed ape house
fire that killed more than 30 lanterns on the internet and lacked fire detectors and
animals at a zoo, officials told authorities that they sprinklers, which weren't
said Thursday. had believed they were le- required when it was built
The three local women gal in Germany. He added in the 1970s. The zoo said,
— a mother and her two that there was nothing in however, that it had passed
daughters, ages 30 to 60 the product description a regular fire protection
— went to police in the A women lights a candle at the main entrance of the Zoo in showing that they were check a few months ago.
western city of Krefeld on Krefeld, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020. Associated Press banned. The building's roof had
New Year's Day after au- Hoppmann described the been renovated after a
thorities held a news con- years. The fire started in a corner women as "completely nor- hailstorm a few years ago
ference about the blaze, Many Germans welcome of the ape house's roof in mal people who seemed and plexiglass was added,
criminal police chief Gerd in the new year legally with the first minutes of the new very sensible, very respon- Hoppmann said. He said
Hoppmann said. fireworks at midnight. Sky year and spread rapidly. sible" and said it was "very while investigators were
The women are being in- lanterns, however, are both The zoo near the Dutch courageous" of them to confident the sky lantern
vestigated on suspicion of illegal and unusual in Ger- border says the ape house come forward, saving au- was to blame, they will look
negligent arson, prosecu- many. The mini hot-air bal- burned down and more thorities a tricky investiga- at other factors that may
tor Jens Frobel said. The loons made of paper have than 30 animals — includ- tion. He added that they have contributed to the
offense can carry a pris- been used in Asia for cen- ing five orangutans, two feared reprisals and au- blaze, such as dry fallen
on sentence of up to five turies. gorillas, a chimpanzee and thorities limited the details leaves on the roof.q