Authorities are scrambling to contain emergency-level bushfires ahead of catastrophic fire conditions forecast for parts of Australia.
The most intense heatwave forecast to hit Australia in six years has descended on southeastern Australia.
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South Australians will continue to endure scorching temperatures that could peak in the high-40Cs in parts of the state on Thursday after sweltering in 40C heat.
Most of the state faces severe heatwave conditions, with a total fire ban in the mid-north region.
After the mercury reached the mid-40s in inland and northern parts of Victoria and 40C in Melbourne, southern parts of the state will have a slight reprieve on Thursday, but northern areas will have no such luck.
Two emergency warnings remain in place for a blaze burning at Longwood in northern Victoria, with residents told to leave immediately before conditions become too dangerous.
