Australia breaks all-time temperature record for second day running as wildfire emergency declared

Conditions are expected to become worse on Saturday as heatwave persists

Temperatures in Australia soared to an average maximum of 41.9C on Wednesday, breaking the record made just the day before as New South Wales declared a seven-day state of emergency.

On Tuesday, the mercury hit 40.9C, beating the previous record of 40.3C which was set in 2013.

NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian announced a state of emergency as 2,000 firefighters battle with about 100 fires across Australia’s most populous state.

Half the blazes remain uncontrolled and firefighters are receiving support from US and Canadian backup teams and personnel from the Australian Defence Force.

The wildfire crisis has seen around 3 million hectares (7.4 million acres) of land burned around the country, killing six people and destroying over 800 homes.

Ms Berejiklian told reporters: “With extreme wind conditions, extreme hot temperatures, we have a good idea… of where the most concerning areas are, but again when you’ve got those turbulent conditions, embers and spot fires can occur very unpredictably.”

Smoke from the fires has sent air pollution levels skyrocketing. Sydney, the capital of NSW, has experienced a thick, hazardous blanket of haze throughout the past month.

Hospitals have seen a 10 per cent rise in patients suffering from respiratory conditions in the past week.

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, conditions are forecast to worsen on Saturday as the heatwave persists.

The Australian government has received a backlash for not giving more urgency to the bushfire crisis and climate change, which has been linked to the fires.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is currently on holiday in Hawaii with his family, though energy minister Angus Taylor doubts he is “having a very significant holiday right now”.

Mr Taylor told ABC: “I’ve been in touch with the prime minister and he’s pretty well-connected about what’s gone on and he’s sharing his concerns about what’s happening in these communities in Wollondilly.”