Tourists Rescued From Sydney Bushfire

Holidaymakers trapped by bushfire had to be rescued by boat from a national park south of Australia’s largest city of Sydney and 200 people were evacuated by firefighters, as a heat wave struck the eastern seaboard on Saturday. The Rural Fire Service had earlier issued an emergency warning to visitors in the Royal National Park, as the blaze threatened the main access road to a popular tourist spot called Wedding Cake Rock where people posted pictures of the billowing smoke to social media, Reuters reported.  “Beaches may offer safety,” the New South Wales' Rural Fire Service (RFS) said as aircraft water-bombers attempted to slow the fire and emergency warnings were sent to the mobile phones of all people in the area. “Firefighters, police, surf lifesavers and National Parks personnel are working with people at beaches in the Royal National Park to help manage their relocation as it’s safe to do so, including by boat and road escort,” RFS wrote on FaceBook. The park was crowded with visitors and had closed shortly before noon because the car parks were full, local media outlet News.com reported.