Australian fires force residents to water's edge

Wildfires burning across Australia's two most-populous states Tuesday trapped residents of a seaside town in apocalyptic conditions, destroyed many properties and caused at least two fatalities.

On the New South Wales south coast, fire was seen moving toward the Princes Highway, a road linking Sydney and Melbourne.

Thick smoke from fires in the region plunged some towns into near darkness.

Some residents fled to lakes and beaches to escape the fire threat.

New South Wales Police confirmed on Tuesday that two men, believed to be father and son, died in a house in the wildfire-ravaged southeast town of Cobargo, while there are fears for another man missing.

The two confirmed deaths raise the toll to at least 12 in Australia's wildfires, which also have razed more than 1,000 homes in the past few months.

Fire conditions also worsened in Victoria after oppressive heat on Monday mixed with strong winds and lightning strikes.