Raging wildfires trap 4,000 at Australian town’s waterfront

PERTH, Australia (AP) — Wildfires burning across Australia’s two most populous states Tuesday trapped residents of a seaside town in apocalyptic conditions and killed at least two people while more property along the country’s east coast fell victim to a devastating fire season.

About 4,000 residents in the southeastern town of Mallacoota in Victoria state fled toward the water Tuesday morning as winds pushed an emergency-level wildfire toward their homes. Smoke filling the sky shrouded the town in darkness before turning an unnerving shade of bright red.

Australia’s annual wildfire...