In Australia, strong winds and soaring temperatures have created what's being called "catastrophic" conditions where firefighters are battling more than 100 bushfires.
One person was found dead inside a fire zone near Adelaide in South Australia on Saturday, two days after two volunteer firefighters were killed by a falling tree in the country's most populated state, New South Wales
Both Sydney and Melbourne are blanketed in smoke, and people in the countryside are desperately trying to protect their homes.
There are 100 fires burning across the state, with half to be contained. Dangerous fire conditions forecast for Saturday - now is time to prepare. Schools are finishing up this week so review & check your travel plans along your route, & at your destination. #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/0UAJR6mrul
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) December 20, 2019
Fires in NSW were set to worsen as temperatures in western Sydney were forecast to hit 47C (115F) today while winds of up to 56mph (90kph) were set to fan the flames before leading to a temperature drop in the evening.
Roads outside Sydney were closed and authorities asked people to delay travel at the start of the busy Christmas travel period.
Close to 10,000 emergency personnel would be working across the state on Saturday - probably the largest emergency deployment in NSW ever, the state's minister for police and emergency services David Elliott said.
