Bushfires burned dangerously out of control on Australia's east coast on Saturday, fueled by high temperatures and strong winds that had firefighters battling to save lives and property, and authorities said the worst of conditions was yet to come.

Blazes also turned the sky blood red in Mallacoota - a town east of Victoria in Australia.

As of Saturday more than 100 wildfires continued to engulf parts of the country, and by early evening, Victoria had 16 fires rated at emergency or evacuate warning levels and New South Wales had 12 rated emergency.