Bushfire destroys nearly 100 homes in Western Australia

A bushfire destroyed nearly 100 homes in western Australia as it swept through countryside south of Perth, but there were no casualties reported after emergency officials and local media said on Friday that three missing people had been found safe, Reuters reported.

Fanned by blustery, hot winds, the bushfire, which razed 58,000 hectares (143,321 acres) of land this week, ripped through the small rural town of Yarloop on Thursday night.

Around 95 homes were destroyed the town of 545 people, along with its post office, fire station and shops, media reports said.

The bushfire continues to threaten other beef and dairy producing towns in the state, emergency workers said.

Australian has suffered a series of fires due to a long hot, dry spell.