AFP, BUXTON, AustraliaA state of emergency was declared in Australia’s most populated region yesterday, as a record heat wave fanned unprecedented bushfires. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the seven-day state of emergency was due to “catastrophic weather conditions.”Temperatures are expected to near 50°C in South Australia and peak at 45°C in the western suburbs of Sydney, while turbulent winds of up to 100km are expected to fan bushfires burning ever-closer to the city. New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said five 100-person “strike teams” were on standby to deploy to the most dangerous fires. More than 70 fires are raging across Queensland to the north of New South Wales. Bushfires are also burning in Western Australia and South Australia.
