Smoke blankets Sydney as wildfires spread across Australia

Hazardous smoke blanketed Sydney on Thursday as wildfires burned across eastern and sourn Australia.

Thick smog shrouded Australia’s most populous city, leaving its iconic skyline barely visible two days after smoke created serious air quality issues.

New South Wales Rural Fire Service said smoke from around 50 wildfires burning mainly in rrn parts of state. Air pollution levels were reing nearly 10 times higher than national standard.

“ smoke is expected to continue for several days,” fire service said.

Wildfires have destroyed more than 600 homes in Australia’s most populous state.

annual Australian fire season rmally peaks during Sourn Hemisphere summer, but has started early after an unusually warm and dry winter.

People with respiratory or heart conditions were vised to stay indoors and seek medical vice when necessary.

fire danger has also spre with authorities issuing declaring high fire risk for parts of Victoria state to south. It is first time in a dece Victoria has been declared Code Red, with highest possible fire risk and a statewide total fire ban.

Temperatures were forecast over 40C (104F) in state’s rth.

Melbourne, Australia’s second most populous city, is forecast on Thursday to hit 39C (102F) after falling just short of its hottest vember minimum at 26C (79F) overnight.

Victoria Emergency Manment Commissioner Andrew Crisp warned Victorians to be vigilant. “Given fires could start and move quickly, you won’t always receive a warning or be told what to do if a fire starts,” he said.

fire danger was also elevated to “severe” in island state of Tasmania off mainland Australia’s souastern coast, while more than 40 wildfires have broken out in South Australia.