Firefighters in the Australian state of Victoria are battling at least six major fires as a record-breaking heatwave hits the country's south-east.
Two fires are currently burning at emergency level according to local broadcaster ABC News. Several communities have been issued emergency warnings to either evacuate, watch and wait, or shelter in place.
Fire officials warn that the situation is changing rapidly and have asked locals to stay up to date with the latest warnings.
The Bureau of Meteorology states that parts of the state have seen all-time temperature highs, with one area hitting a staggering 48.9C. Melbourne has recorded a temperature of 41C.
Chris Hardman, the chief fire officer at Forest Fire Management Victoria, told reporters that the state's heat conditions are making firefighting efforts incredibly difficult.
Two fires in Camperdown and Otways are labeled as emergency-level threats, and a new fire in the Larralea area is raising significant concerns.
Country Fire Authority (CFA) chief officer Jason Hefferman warned that the Otways fire could produce ember showers, which could ignite additional fires ahead of the main blaze.
While the extent of the damage is still unclear, Australia's Deputy Incident Controller Alistair Drayton mentioned having anecdotal evidence indicating that some homes may have been lost, praising the spectacular efforts of firefighters thus far.
In addition to Victoria's total fire ban, South Australia has also been placed under alert for extreme fire risk.
Meanwhile, health officials are raising alarms about the prolonged heat, which poses significant health risks, especially for the elderly, children, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions. Victoria's Chief Health Officer Caroline McElnay noted that extreme heat can lead to severe health issues such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke, heart attacks, and strokes.
