Australia heatwave live updates: Victoria declares state of disaster in multiple areas as bushfires rage; temperatures to reach 43C in Sydney

Total fire ban in place for whole of Victoria fires burn while Sydney prepares for the brunt of the heatwaveWelcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the heatwave that has engulfed much of Australia this past week, with conditions not seen since the deadly black summer in 2019-20.Victorian premier Jacinta Allan has declared a state of disaster in 18 local government areas and an alpine resort as the state battles an escalating bushfire crisis that has destroyed multiple homes, prompted evacuations and razed more tens of thousands of hectares of bushland. Continue reading...