Bushfires out of control across southeast Australia

Bushfires burned dangerously out of control on Australia’s east coast on Saturday, fueled by soaring temperatures and strong winds that had firefighters battling to save lives and property, and authorities said the worst of conditions was yet to come.

As the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) updated its emergency warnings on the fires, it repeatedly delivered the same blunt advice to those who had not evacuated at-risk areas: “It is too late to leave. Seek shelter as the fire approaches.”

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced 3,000 troops will be deployed to help tackle raging bushfires across the country.

National death toll in current fire season, which began in September, is 23. Dozens of people are missing and some 1,500 homes have already been lost this fire season.

More than 5.25 million hectares of land has been burnt this fire season.