In Australia, the states of New South Wales and Queensland have declared a state of emergency, following the widespread bush fires which took at least three lives.<br />''<br />''Thousands have been displaced by three days of dangerous weather conditions and bring a catastrophic threat to heavily populated areas of the nation's east. More than 120 bush fires are burning across the two states.<br />''<br />''Officials say the worst danger will come for areas around Sydney tomorrow, the nation's largest city. The catastrophic warning is in place across the greater Sydney area and regions to the city's north and south.<br />''<br />''In New South Wales, the blazes have scorched 9,70,000 hectares of land and destroyed 150 houses. Nine homes have been razed in Queensland.<br />'' <br />''<span style="color: #222222;">New South Wales fire authorities have issued the maximum level of warning for the first time since new fire warnings were introduced a decade ago, after Australia's deadly Black Saturday disaster.</span><br />