Australian bushfires killed 14 people in the southern state of Victoria today and destroyed at least 100 homes as a heatwave sparked over 40 fires across two states.
"There are 14 dead. These areas are still very hot so we cannot get into many of the areas," a police spokesman confirmed.
Local media said there were unconfirmed reports that the death toll may be as high as 40 in the fire northwest of Melbourne.
"There is speculation that 40 may have died, but we cannot confirm anything at this stage," said the police spokesman.
Australia's worst bushfires occurred on "Ash Wednesday" in 1983 when 75 people were killed in Victoria.
"Tragically some of these people were killed in cars," a Victorian fire official told Australia's Sky television.
"They were late evacuating and the worst place to be is on the road. We learnt this at the 'Ash Wednesday' bushfires."
Australian fire officials in Australia advised residents to stay and defend their homes against bushfires, as most homes are damaged not by the actual firefront but burning embers blown onto roofs. Evacuation is a last resort and fire officials advise residents to leave well before a firefront nears.
Wildfires are a natural annual event in Australia, but this year conditions are some of the worst in living memory: a combination of scorching weather, drought and tinder-dry bush.
"These fires are going to take days and days to get under control," said the Victorian fire official.
On Saturday temperatures in Melbourne soared to 46.4 degrees Celsius (115.5 Fahrenheit), the highest on record, local media said, with the mercury in the community of Laverton on the city's west hitting 47.9 C (118.2 F).