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Australia heatwave: Two volunteers firefighters die in crash Australia bushfires: PM Morrison apologises for US holiday amid crisis
(about 8 hours later)
Two volunteers helping to fight Australia's bushfires have died in a road accident, south-west of Sydney. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has apologised for going on holiday in Hawaii this week while the nation's bushfire crisis worsened.
Officials say their New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) vehicle hit a tree and rolled off the road on Thursday night - killing the driver and a front-seat passenger. Crews are battling over 100 fires amid a heatwave which has produced the nation's two hottest days on record.
They had been part of a convoy close to the frontline of a fire burning at emergency level, local reports say. Two volunteer firefighters died in a road accident on Thursday while deployed to a huge blaze near Sydney.
Three other volunteers in the vehicle were injured in the accident. Mr Morrison said he would end his leave early. His absence this week has drawn condemnation and protests.
"This is an absolutely devastating event in what has already been an incredibly difficult day and fire season," the RFS said in a statement confirming the deaths. "I deeply regret any offence caused to any of the many Australians affected by the terrible bushfires by my taking leave with family at this time," he said on Friday.
Much of Australia has seen record-setting temperatures this week - with dry conditions exacerbating an ongoing bushfire crisis. Australia's bushfire emergency has killed eight people, destroyed more than 700 houses and scorched millions of hectares since September.
There are more than 100 fires currently burning in New South Wales, which is the country's most populous state. Why were people angry with the PM?
State Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced a seven-day state of emergency on Thursday due to forecasts of worsening conditions. Mr Morrison was widely criticised after reports emerged that he was away on unannounced leave and rumoured to be in Hawaii.
"The biggest concern over the next few days is the unpredictability, with extreme wind conditions [and] extremely hot temperatures," she said. Phrases such as #WhereisScoMo, #WhereTheBloodyHellAreYou - a reference to a famous tourism campaign he once oversaw - and #FireMorrison quickly trended online.
Thursday's fatal accident happened in the village of Buxton, 100km (60 miles) south-west of Sydney, at about 23:30 local time (12:30 GMT). Criticism grew as a heatwave broke records across the country and exacerbated mammoth blazes, making the task even harder for exhausted firefighters - many of them volunteers.
In a separate incident earlier in the day, three other firefighters were seriously burned when they were overcome tackling a blaze in the nearby town of Bargo. Government ministers defended Mr Morrison's break as "appropriate", but refused to confirm his whereabouts. His office told the BBC and others that reports he was in Hawaii were "incorrect".
At least six people have been killed and hundreds of homes destroyed in recent months due to the bushfires. On Friday, he confirmed to radio station 2GB that he was in Hawaii with his family. He added he had been receiving regular updates on the fires and last week's New Zealand volcano disaster, which killed at least 11 Australians.
"Given the most recent tragic events, I will be returning to Sydney as soon as can be arranged," he said in a statement.
It came after the NSW Rural Fire Service said it was mourning the deaths of firefighters Geoffrey Keaton, 32, and Andrew O'Dwyer, 36.
The men were killed on Thursday night when their firefighting vehicle was hit by a falling tree near a fire front, causing it to roll off the road.
Why is Morrison facing pressure on climate change?
Many Australians have accused Mr Morrison and his government of inaction on climate change.
For much of the fire crisis, the government has been reluctant to talk about the role of climate change in exacerbating blazes. This has sparked other protests.
Australia has been criticised internationally for its climate record, with the UN identifying it as among a minority of G20 nations falling short of its emissions promises.
Mr Morrison has said the nation only accounts for 1.3% of global emissions. However, Australia is one of the highest emitters of carbon pollution per capita, largely because it is still heavily reliant on coal-fired power.
The Labor opposition has also drawn criticism for policies which support coal mining.
What is happening with the fires?
Temperatures have exceeded 45C in several states this week, fanning bushfires in South Australia and NSW.
On Thursday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced a seven-day state of emergency due to forecasts of worsening conditions. The intense heat is expected to persist into Saturday, forecasters warn.
The nation may have its all-time temperature record broken again after it was smashed twice this week. It hit a high of 41.9C (107.4F) on Wednesday.
Of the firefighters' deaths, the NSW Rural Fire Service said: "This is an absolutely devastating event in what has already been an incredibly difficult day and fire season."