A fire continues to rage in Australia’s Blue Mountains north-west of Sydney. The blaze can be seen destroying large parts of the forest and filling the sky with smoke. New South Wales remains under a state of emergency as around 2000 firefighters struggle to limit around 100 wildfires.
One resident said: “My greatest concern is getting all the smoke particles into my lungs and into my heart, that is why I wear mask.”
Another said: “I have lived in Sydney since 92 and I have never seen it like this before.
“I think there is concern but also nature is doing what nature does.”
This is suspected to be the biggest forest fire that Australia has ever known.
READ MORE: Australian wildfires: Is it safe to travel amid state of emergency?
The Australian Prime Minister has apologised for going on a family holiday while devastating bushfires continue to rage out of control.
Scott Morrison returned to work on Sunday, cutting short his holiday by a day after the deaths of two volunteer firefighters on Thursday.
Mr Morrison had been enjoying a pre-Christmas trip to Hawaii with his wife and children, provoking public outrage over his absence during a national crisis.
Australia has been in the midst of some of the worst bushfires in living memory since the autumn.
The PM admitted that with the benefit of hindsight he would have made a different decision.
He added: “I get it that people would have been upset to know that I was holidaying with my family while their families were under great stress.
“But I’m comforted by the fact that Australians would like me to be here, just simply so I can be here, alongside them as they’re going through this terrible time… and I apologise for that.”
The fires have burnt to cinders more than 800 homes and wiped out three million hectares of land (7.4 million acres).