(UTV|AUSTRALIA) – Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced 3,000 reserve troops will be deployed to help tackle raging bushfires across the country.
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said this is the first time this had happened in Australia’s history.
Temperatures surpassed 40C (104F) in parts of south-east Australia on Saturday as fires ravaged through homes and land.
Since September, the fires in Australia have killed at least 23 people.
Dozens of people are missing and some 1,500 homes have already been lost this fire season.
“We have seen this disaster escalate to an entirely new level,” Mr Morrison told reporters at a press conference on Saturday.
What happened on Saturday?
Skies reddened and darkened in areas of south-eastern Australia as wind gusts exacerbated the fires.
Emergency warnings were issued throughout the day urging residents to leave certain areas.
In some places, including the Snowy Mountains, people were told it was too late to evacuate. They were instructed to shelter indoors or in a large clearing or body of water.
(Agencies)