A wildfire is spreading near a famous Australian beach, with smoke engulfing the area. The rebellious flames have already entered the residential streets, burning through 140 hectares of land next to North Belongil Beach in Byron Bay, the Daily Mail reported.

A wildfire is spreading near a famous Australian beach, with smoke engulfing the area. The rebellious flames have already entered the residential streets, burning through 140 hectares of land next to North Belongil Beach in Byron Bay, the Daily Mail reported. It's been two days since the firefighters started trying to control the flames. The out-of-control bushfire has burned about five kilometres of Byron Bay between Bayshore Drive, Black Rock Road and Ewingsdale Road. Authorities have requested residents and tourists to continue to watch out and keep updated with the RFS (Rural Fire Service) website for alerts. They have also issued an extreme fire danger warning for parts of Queensland due to rising temperatures throughout the state. On Monday, the fire danger in Australia's northern region of NSW (New South Wales) rose to an extreme level, threatening life and property. Authorities used thermal imagining to capture aerial videos of the fire zone to understand the bushfire's proximity to the coast. ALSO READ | Study suggests dementia risk factors have greater impact on minority ethnic groups People who witnessed the wildfire from a distance shared images on social media platforms on Sunday, showing thick and dark plumes of smoke rising from the bushland back onto Byron's famous coastline. Australia's Bureau of Meteorology has cautioned the Darling Downs and Granite Belts west of Brisbane as they predicted that temperatures might reach 35 degrees Celsius on Monday. They will provide an update soon about the wildfire situation in the north of NSW. Queensland Fire and Emergency Service said the authorities are handling 18 fires across the state, with over 60 burning in the last 24 hours. They are closely monitoring a fire in Deepwater, near Rockhampton. Moreover, they have asked the people of rural Queensland to stay informed about the situation. The aircraft and waterbombing crews are currently on standby. However, bushfires in Australia have become more common, widespread, and life-threatening. In August, NSW RFS announced an early start to the fire danger season as over 70 blazes were already active in the area. On October 3, a bushfire in Bega Valley spread rapidly, leading to emergency warnings in Bermagui and surrounding towns. On October 14, NSW RFS confirmed the death of a volunteer firefighter in the Kyogo region while working on the Bean Creek fire. In 2019, Australia witnessed the beginning of the worst bushfire in history as it lasted till March 2020, causing massive damage throughout the country, with fires in each state and territory. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Out-of-control bushfire engulfs area near famous Australian beach in Byron Bay

Thailand`s Maya Bay, made famous by the film "The Beach", will close to visitors for four months from June to allow its coral reefs to recover from rising temperatures and the environmental impact of thousands of visitors each day.

The bay, on Phi Phi Leh island in the Andaman Sea, was the main location of the 2000 film starring Leonardo Di Caprio, which revealed to viewers the stunning beauty of Thailand`s turquoise seas and white-powder beaches, spurring many to visit.

Up to 5,000 visitors go to the beach every day, says Thailand`s tourism agency, travelling by speedboat and ferries to Maya Bay, which is sheltered by 100-meter high cliffs.

The closure from June 1 is a bid to salvage the area`s coral reefs, which have been damaged by warmer temperatures and growing numbers of tourists.

"This is one way to try to preserve our natural heritage, which is a vital part of our important tourism industry," said Kanokkittika Kritwutikon, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand`s office in Phuket.

No boats will be allowed to moor in the bay, said a tour operator, Maya Bay Tours.

"We have been advised that Maya Bay will close from 1 June to 30 September 2018 to allow some recovery time for the bay," it said on its website. "No boats will be allowed to moor in Maya Bay, but we will run past the bay."

Tourism receipts make up about 12 percent of Southeast Asia`s second-largest economy, but there has been increasing concern about Thailand`s ability to manage its rapidly growing number of visitors and the environmental impact of mass tourism.

This year the country banned smoking and littering at 24 beachside locations over environmental concerns.

Thailand is among the world`s biggest contributors to ocean waste, posing a serious threat to wildlife, the magazine Science said in a report in 2015.&nbsp;

Some in the tourism industry said Maya Bay`s closure would have little impact, however.&nbsp;

"There are other places to visit which are equally interesting," said Geng, 35, a hotel receptionist on Phi Phi Island, who gave only one name.&nbsp;

"June to September is not high season. I can take tourists to other beaches, like Monkey Beach and Bamboo Island."&nbsp;

The bay, on Phi Phi Leh island in the Andaman Sea, was the main location of the 2000 film starring Leonardo Di Caprio

Thailand`s Maya Bay, made famous by the film "The Beach", will close to visitors for four months from June to allow its coral reefs to recover from rising temperatures and the environmental impact of thousands of visitors each day. The bay, on Phi Phi Leh island in the Andaman Sea, was the main location of the 2000 film starring Leonardo Di Caprio, which revealed to viewers the stunning beauty of Thailand`s turquoise seas and white-powder beaches, spurring many to visit. Up to 5,000 visitors go to the beach every day, says Thailand`s tourism agency, travelling by speedboat and ferries to Maya Bay, which is sheltered by 100-meter high cliffs. The closure from June 1 is a bid to salvage the area`s coral reefs, which have been damaged by warmer temperatures and growing numbers of tourists. "This is one way to try to preserve our natural heritage, which is a vital part of our important tourism industry," said Kanokkittika Kritwutikon, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand`s office in Phuket. No boats will be allowed to moor in the bay, said a tour operator, Maya Bay Tours. "We have been advised that Maya Bay will close from 1 June to 30 September 2018 to allow some recovery time for the bay," it said on its website. "No boats will be allowed to moor in Maya Bay, but we will run past the bay." Tourism receipts make up about 12 percent of Southeast Asia`s second-largest economy, but there has been increasing concern about Thailand`s ability to manage its rapidly growing number of visitors and the environmental impact of mass tourism. This year the country banned smoking and littering at 24 beachside locations over environmental concerns. Thailand is among the world`s biggest contributors to ocean waste, posing a serious threat to wildlife, the magazine Science said in a report in 2015. Some in the tourism industry said Maya Bay`s closure would have little impact, however. "There are other places to visit which are equally interesting," said Geng, 35, a hotel receptionist on Phi Phi Island, who gave only one name. "June to September is not high season. I can take tourists to other beaches, like Monkey Beach and Bamboo Island."

Thai Bay made famous by film ''The Beach'' to close for four months

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