Wildfires

Wildfires - Australia

Thousands of Australians have fled their homes as wildfires rage across the south of the country with firefighters struggling to contain the blazes fanned by strong winds.

No serious injuries have been reported, but dry weather conditions and temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius have hampered the relief effort. Officials said it would likely take days to get the fires under control.

The worst of the fires was in the Adelaide Hills in South Australia, where the flames had destroyed five homes and put hundreds of others at risk, a Country Fire Service spokesman said. Residents of 19 communities had been asked to evacuate as a predicted shift in the winds later on Saturday prompted fears the flames could worsen.