Firefighters battle to contain New Zealand wildfire as 1,000 evacuated

by Dramelin 8:30 PM 0 comments

The wildfire in Christchurch`s Port Hills district spread rapidly overnight to cover more than 1,800 hectares (4,447 acres), emergency workers said. More than 1,000 people were evacuated from their homes, 11 properties were destroyed and a state of emergency was declared. WELLINGTON Hundreds of firefighters and dozens of aircraft fought a massive wildfire threatening New Zealand`s third largest city Christchurch on Thursday. "A change in the wind direction is predicted for later in the week that will lower temperatures and humidity and could slow the fire`s progress, emergency workers said. The prime minister said two fires had started at the same time which he described as "suspicious" but that he did not want people to "jump to conclusions"(Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield and Colin Packham in SYDNEY.