Australia braces for more bushfires as conditions set to worsen

Burnt out cars and homes gutted beyond recognition: bushfires in the Australian state of New South Wales have killed three people since Friday (November 8) - when a record number of emergency-level fires were declared in the state.

At least 150 homes have been destroyed.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited residents affected by the fires at an evacuation center in the town of Taree on Sunday (November 10).

(SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER SCOTT MORRISON, SAYING:

"Where people have reached out, got people out of homes, made sure they have got to safety, looked after each other's livestock and animals, talking to each other, putting themselves in harm's way for each other. I got to tell you as a prime minister, I am never more proud of Australians than in moments like these."

But conditions are only expected to worsen.

Authorities upgraded the forecast for the greater Sydney region to catastrophic fire danger for Tuesday (November 12), the first time the city has been rated at that level since new fire danger ratings were introduced a decade ago.

For some residents of the mid north coast, the fires have become a political issue.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) PORT MACQUARIE RESIDENT, HARRY CREAMER, SAYING:

"We've been telling the politicians the same message for over ten years and they're not listening. We have a Prime Minister and a Premier in denial about climate change. This is real. Only on Thursday, 11,000 scientists issued a very simple four page statement, saying we have to declare a climate emergency. The planet is at a stage where we must declare a climate emergency. You can not leave it any longer."

Australia is suffering through one of its worst bushfire seasons with parts of the country crippled by severe drought.