At least fourteen people have been killed in deadly bush fires in south eastern Australia with fears the number is set to rise.

Police say the number of people killed could reach 40. Described as a ‘once in a century’ event, the heatwave has sparked dozens of wildfires, as temperatures exceed 47 degrees Celsius in places. With emergency services stretched, home owners in the state of Victoria are doing what they can to save their properties. But, extreme hot weather, together with the tinder dry bush have created a perfect storm for the inferno. Fire-fighters and aircraft have been desperately trying to dampen households and bush land in a bid to prevent the flames spreading further. At least 40 fires are blazing in New South Wales with the states of Victoria and South Australia also badly hit. Elsewhere in Australia, a shortage of water is far from a problem in flood ravaged Queensland. The north eastern state has seen massive flash flooding with the city of Ingham coming in for some of the heaviest rain.More about: Australia, Flood

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