Raging bushfires have now reached the outskirts of Sydney, destroying a number of properties.

Scores of fires are still burning in New South Wales amid temperatures of 35C and winds of 80km/h.

About six million people live in New South Wales (NSW) state.

The number of fires still afflicting NSW ranged from 100 to 300 in Australian media reports.

Crews have been battling a front spanning 1,000km along the north coast of NSW, with several blazes "exceeding 100,000 hectares alone".

[Source:BBC]