Forest fires blazing across New Zealand’s South Island have forced thousands of people to flee their homes with more expected to follow suit.
So far up to 3,000 people have been forced to leave the Wakefield and Pigeon Valley areas, NZ Civil Defence Controller Roger Ball said during a news conference on Saturday.
High winds on Sunday have been set to cause further issues as they fan the flames and more evacuations are expected.
The ferocious Pigeon Valley fire currently covers 5,700 acres with a 15 mile perimeter, NZ Civil Defence said in a statement on its website.
No deaths have been reported and only one home has been destroyed so far but people are still leaving areas in droves as a precaution.
Early on Sunday, 155 firefighters were battling the blaze on the ground,
They had air support from 23 helicopters and three fixed wing planes.
This made it the largest aerial firefight on record in New Zealand.
New Zealand Red Cross Communications Manager Ellie van Baaren said evacuees were tired and frustrated.
"When you have to leave your home and in some cases your livestock and animals and you don't know what's become of them, and you're staying with friends and family, then it's an uncertain situation for everybody," she said.
Much of the affected area south of Nelson was used for forestry.
It also has many small farms and some livestock has had to be moved to safety.
Fires started on Monday and Tuesday and quickly spread.
On Wednesday, authorities declared a state of emergency.
Hundreds of volunteer and professional firefighters, police, civil defence and military personnel are battling the flames.
