Bushfires rage out of control near Perth, Australia

PERTH. February 7. KAZINFORM Bushfires raging on the outskirts of Perth in Western Australia have destroyed at least 40 homes and damaged about 20 others. Kazinform refers to BBC.

photo: QAZINFORM

Firefighters are battling two blazes to the east and north of the city.

High flames are being fanned by winds of up to 70km/h (44mph). Hundreds of people have left their homes.

The blazes come two years after 173 people died in bushfires that swept through the southern state of Victoria, causing widespread devastation.

The BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney says there seems to be no end to Australia's summer of disasters.

The fires near Perth follow major flooding in Queensland and Victoria.

Towns on the north-east coast of the country are continuing to clean up after last week's Cyclone Yasi. Kazinform cites BBC. See www.bbc.co.uk