Fires rip through Australia's southeast

A series of devastating brush fires have swept through Australia's southeastern state of Victoria, destroying multiple properties and forcing thousands of people to flee their homes.

The blazes were caused by lightning strikes late last week, according to Andrew Crisp, the Victoria emergency management commissioner. Crisp said that as of Monday morning, 19 fires were still burning.

State emergency management authorities have issued a series of serious warnings in recent days, urging residents in danger to "act immediately to survive."

More than 2,000 firefighters have been deployed to fight the blazes and thousands have been evacuated, said Victoria Premier Dan Andrews.
As of Monday, one of the fires -- in Bunyip State Park -- covered more than 11,500 hectares (about 28,400 acres), according to the Cardinia Shire government's website.