Australian authorities say an "unprecedented" number of emergency-level bushfires are threatening the state of New South Wales.

More than 80 blazes were raging across the state yesterday.

There are reports of people trapped in their homes in several places, with crew unable to reach them due to the strength of the fires.

At one point, 17 emergency-level fires were burning simultaneously across NSW.

But fire authorities said that falling temperatures, increases in humidity and helicopter assistance were helping with efforts to tackle the blazes.

Authorities have deployed more than 1,000 firefighters and 70 aircraft to save as many people as possible.

Source: BBC