Firefighters slow bushfire threatening township in Australia's Fraser Island

Aerial view of an area affected by a bushfire on Fraser Island (K'gari), Queensland, Australia December 5, 2020 in this picture obtained from social media. Save Fraser Islands Dingoes Inc via REUTERS

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian authorities on Monday managed to stave off a massive bushfire as it neared a coastal township on world heritage-listed Fraser Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef.

The blaze, which has been burning since mid-October, has already destroyed half the island off Australia's northeastern coast. Famous for its tropical rainforest and inland lakes, it is the world's largest sand island.