Australia is bracing for yet more wildfires as another "extreme heatwave" is expected to hit the country.
Firefighters are taking advantage of a temporary bout of cooler weather, but there are still more than 70 blazes in New South Wales alone.
So far the fires have burned around five million hectares (12.35 million acres) of land, killed nine people and destroyed more than 950 homes.
Authorities are bracing for things to get worse as high temperatures return.
A massive shout out to 100s and 100s of volunteers that gave up their Christmas and Boxing Day to cut lines, backburn, mop up and black out. This is extremely important work to try and contain fires ahead of deteriorating weather early next week. Thank you. #NSWRFS #nswfires pic.twitter.com/TnJA46vN4i
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) December 26, 2019
Sydney is forecast to hit 31C (88F) on Sunday before reaching 35C on Tuesday, while the city's western suburbs could reach 41C.
Adelaide in South Australia is on course to reach a sizzling 40C at the start of a four-day heatwave
