Bushfires raged in the Australian state of Victoria on Thursday, forcing hundreds of schools to close and communities to evacuate.

Two large fires have burned near the towns of Longwood and Walwa as the region battles temperatures above 40c (104f) amid an intense summear heatwave.

The fire danger rating has been elevated to 'catastrophic', with the fires posing a significant risk to loss of life and property, according to authorities.

The conditions are said to be on a par with the 'Black Summer' of 2019, when bushfires destroyed large areas of southeastern Australia and killed 33 people.

Country Fire Authority Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said: "Tomorrow is a very, very dire bushfire day in the state of Victoria."

The fires will cause around 450 school closures and the cancellation of many regional train services. 

The Longwood fire covers more than 61,776 acres, while the Walwa fire is 24,710 acres and has created its own weather system, with a pyrocumulonimbus cloud causing lightning and thunder.

The fires have destroyed at least two structures and are expected to spread further on as the wind and heat pick up.

Total fire bans were issued in several districts, with a total fire ban expected will be imposed across the whole state on Friday.

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