Australia fires: Fires worsen as every Australian state hits 40C

(BBC) – Scores of fires are burning out of control across Australia amid a heatwave that has seen temperatures exceed 40C (104F) in every state. The most dangerous fires on Monday were in the state of Victoria.

About 30,000 residents and tourists were urged to flee East Gippsland – a popular holiday region – but evacuations were later deemed too risky as fires encroached on major roads. A volunteer firefighter died battling a blaze in the state of New South Wales.

The state’s premier, Gladys Berejiklian, described the death as “heartbreaking”. “Words fail at times like this,” she wrote on Twitter. Two others were taken to hospital with burns after battling the blaze, east of the city of Albury. It is believed their truck rolled over after being hit by extreme winds.

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