Tim Wiebusch, the emergency management commissioner of Victoria, said at least 130 structures had been destroyed across the state, a figure that includes houses, sheds and other buildings.

The bureau said the situation is the worst since the events of 2019-20. Six years ago, Australia faced devastating wildfires that destroyed much of the southeastern region of the country. The wildfires, referred to as the Black Summer, resulted in the deaths of 33 people.

Australia's climate has warmed by an average of 1.51 C since 1910, researchers have found, fueling increasingly frequent extreme weather patterns over both land and sea.

Australia remains one of the world's largest producers and exporters of gas and coal, two key fossil fuels blamed for global heating.

Agencies contributed to this story.