Several homes and farms have been destroyed as around 150 bushfires sweep across large swathes of Australia's Victoria state.

The Victoria Fire Service says conditions are the most serious for five years.

Temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius and strong winds are fanning these intense and fast-moving blazes.

Fires are also burning in more densely populated areas around Melbourne.

Many Australians lives and homes.are at risk.

Local media reported that a family of five managed to escape from their home just before it burnt to the ground....

Residents do what they can to save their property and put out the flames and more than 350 firefighters and six aircraft are helping to control the grass fires.