Nearly 100 wildfires are burning, some out of control, across the most populous state in Australia as strong winds fan flames across the parched landscape in unseasonably hot temperatures.
New South Wales Rural Fire Service revealed late last night that several homes were destroyed in fires yesterday.
There were no reports of injuries or deaths, but a spokesman for the service said the blazes were the most serious wildfire emergency in years, with 18 fires out of control.
The number of destroyed homes is unknown, with conditions too intense for firefighters to reach the hardest-hit areas.
The fires have been caused by unseasonably hot temperatures reaching 35C, as well as strong winds which have helped spread the flames. Authorities said they would not know how many homes were destroyed before dawn today .
State premier Barry O’Farrell said: “We are unclear yet as to how many properties have been lost, but it’s suspected that by the time we finish counting, it’ll at least be in the hundreds.”
Smoke from the fires blocked the sun over central Sydney yesterday, casting an eerie, orange haze over the city.
A cool front swept through the region as darkness fell, bringing temperatures from the mid-30s to the mid-teens Celsius. But the strong winds sent flames racing in new directions and continued to bring fresh misery to the 1,400 firefighters battling the blazes.
“This is as bad as it gets,” said Rural Fire Service Commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons.
Wildfires are common throughout Australia in the warmer months. In February 2009, wildfires killed 173 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes in Victoria state.