More than 200 homes have burned down in deadly bushfires racing along the Australian coast.

At least 43 homes were destroyed in East Gippsland, Victoria, while another 200 were lost in New South Wales.

Thousands of people who were unable to evacuate fled to beaches as fires encircled their towns.

Conditions have eased slightly, and a major road that was closed in Victoria was reopened for two hours to allow people to leave.

But in the early hours of New Year's Day, there were still 112 fires burning in New South Wales alone.

[Source: BBC]