Australia bushfire destroys homes and damages observatory

A major bushfire has destroyed at least 28 homes in New South Wales and damaged an observatory, as fires continue to burn across the state.

The fire forced staff to evacuate from the Siding Spring Observatory, in the state's north-east.

But while several buildings were affected, key telescopes appeared not to have suffered "major damage".

More than 170 fires are burning in New South Wales, as lightning strikes cause more blazes amid hot and windy weather.

At least 30 fires remain uncontained, officials say.

Fires are also burning in Victoria and Tasmania, where a firefighter tackling a blaze on the Tasman peninsula was found dead on Sunday. A report on his death is being prepared.

The fires have been caused by days of searing heat across much of the country - so much so that Australia's Bureau of Meteorology was last week forced to add a new shade to its colour-coded temperature chart, for heat above 50C.