As a heatwave in south-east Australia entered its fifth straight day of temperatures 40 degrees and above, authorities have issued emergency warnings about out-of-control bushfires.
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) told the ABC blazes in Victoria were fast-moving, out of control and burning towards private property. Conditions were expected to worsen on Friday before a cool change set in during the afternoon.
A massive blaze burning in the Grampians, in the state’s northwest, was the biggest cause for concern as firefighters face some of the toughest bushfire conditions in the past five years.
The temperature is set to reach 44 degrees Celcius in Melbourne and the mid-40s across much of the state before a southwesterly change. In South Australia, hundreds of firefighters are continuing to battle about 20 blazes across the state.
