WELLINGTON: Thousands of people are forced to leave their homes in the Pigeon Valley of South Island in New Zealand after strong winds fan forest fires that have been burning for a week through the area.

The fire has covered around 5,700 acres of land, according to the officials. No casualties have been reported so far.

It has been reported that around 155 firefighters are battling the blaze on the ground and 23 helicopters and 3 fixed-wing planes for aerial support, which is believed to be the largest of its kind in the country’s history.