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19 December 2019

Gallery: The New South Wales bush fires

Thursday was Australia's hottest day on record.

By New Statesman

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 19: Fire and Rescue personal watch as a bushfire burns next to a major road and homes on the outskirts of the town of Bilpin on December 19, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has declared a state of emergency for the next seven days with ongoing dangerous fire conditions and almost 100 bushfires burning across the state. It's the second state of emergency declared in NSW since the start of the bushfire season. (Photo by David Gray/Getty Images)

New South Wales has declared a state of emergency in response to the week’s extreme heat and the dozens of bush fires burning around the drought-stricken region.

Australian temperature records were broken for the second day running on Thursday, with temperatures near to 50C in South Australia and reaching 45C in the western suburbs of Sydney.

The state of emergency – the second declared this summer – will last seven days.

Tourists in Sydney wear face masks to defend against the heavy smoke.

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A house in Balmoral, 150km southwest of Sydney, burns.

 

Firemen fight to protect a nearby house.

 

The smoke from the Balmoral bushfire.

 

A fire burns around the town of Bilpin.

 

Residents watch a large bushfire as seen from Bargo, 150km southwest of Sydney.

 

A helicopter prepares to drop water on the fire.

 

Sunset over Bondi Beach, Sydney.