The villages of Cobargo and Quaama have felt the full force of the bushfire emergency gripping the South Coast, with extensive loss of buildings confirmed.
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Photos being shared on Facebook show the historic village of Cobargo's main street ablaze.
At 11.15am a Bega fire truck said it was on the way to Cobargo's main street with reports the hotel is on fire.
There are also unconfirmed reports the Cobargo Public School has been destroyed.
The fire that started in the Badja River area in the Snowy Monaro Region has since burnt around 65,000ha, travelling quickly east through Wadbilliga National Park and into Cobargo on Tuesday.
Earlier on Tuesday residents in Cobargo and Coolagolite were told to evacuate towards Bermagui.
For anyone in the area of Bermagui, Regatta Point, Wallaga Lake and Wallaga Lake Heights, it is too late to leave.Evacuation centres are in place at the Tathra Surf Lifesaving Club, the Bega Showground, Club Sapphire in Merimbula and the Eden Fishermen's Club.
The Princes Highway between the Brogo Bridge and Cobargo is closed as is the Bermagui-Tathra Road in both directions.
Ben Smyth
I have worked as a journalist since 2005 and am now Editor of Australian Community Media mastheads in Bega, Merimbula and Eden
I have worked as a journalist since 2005 and am now Editor of Australian Community Media mastheads in Bega, Merimbula and Eden
