WELLINGTON, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Evacuations are underway and more than 220 homes are without power on Monday as firefighters battle a scrub fire threatening residential buildings in Roxburgh, a town in New Zealand's central Otago region.
Six firefighting crews responded to the blaze after reports of a fire in trees emerged at about 2:45 p.m. local time, according to Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
Crews were working from the ground to contain the fire and protect nearby homes, while police assisted with evacuations in the east of the township, Radio New Zealand reported.
High winds prevented firefighters from tackling the blaze from the air. Power had been disconnected to more than 220 homes in Roxburgh as a safety precaution, the report said.
Firefighters were also battling blazes in Southland on the South Island and near the Desert Road in central North Island, as strong winds prompted weather warnings and watches across much of the South Island and parts of the lower North Island, according to the report.
Central Otago was under an orange-level wind warning expected to remain in place until 9 p.m. local time on Monday, MetService said. ■
