In an unprecedented naval evacuation of civilians in Australia’s history, the first evacuees from the fire-besieged holiday town of Mallacoota in East Gippsland have arrived at a Victorian port on the Mornington Peninsular.
HMAS Sycamore docked earlier than expected at Hastings on Saturday about 8am, carrying up to 60 people fleeing the deadly fires raging in Victoria’s east.
More people will be carried to safety on HMAS Choules, which is also on its way to Hastings.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said the evacuees will be transported to nearby relief centres including Sommerville after their 20-hour journey.
“The evacuees are quite vulnerable,” police said.
The evacuation operation at #Mallacoota has begun with the first group of people being transferred into Choules and MV Sycamore for relocation to Western Port, Victoria. #AustralianNavy #OurCommunity #OpBushfireAssist #AustraliaFires pic.twitter.com/WUmqmwKjNn
— Royal Australian Navy (@Australian_Navy) January 3, 2020
Victoria’s Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp told Nine’s Today Show up to 1085 people have been transported by both HMAS Sycamore and HMAS Choules.
The evacuations began on Friday morning after hundreds of people registered to leave on Thursday night at a Navy briefing at the Mallacoota town hall.
Their names and allocated vessels and times were posted on a wall. Many sobbed and were visibly distressed as they had to decide whether to stay or leave.
Once transported by smaller vessels, hundreds of families were ushered inside both ships where they were offered food, bedding and a “doggy play pen” for family pets.
Navy's HMAS Choules with evacuated passengers from Mallacoota, Victoria. You can hear the passengers dogs barking. I bet if people had pet giraffes & lamas, the Navy would have found room for them too.
God bless them for pulling off the biggest mass evacuation in Oz history. pic.twitter.com/Hx1hmLj7cZ
— 🇦🇺🇬🇧🇮🇪 ✝️ @EmmaDownUnder ✡️ ðŸ‡ðŸ‡ºðŸ‡µðŸ‡±ðŸ‡¦ðŸ‡º (@emm_downunder) January 3, 2020
He said the evacuation went “smoothly” and HMAS Choules, with the majority of families and holiday-makers on board, is expected to dock about 4pm on Saturday.
Both ships will resupply and head back to Mallacoota to continue the evacuation of others still stranded on the foreshore and in caravan parks as thick smoke continues to blanket the eastern part of Victoria.
Commissioner Crisp said doctors and paramedics were on the ground to treat people, saying helicopters were on standby to evacuate more people when the smoke clears.
More to come.
-with AAP
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