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Dozens of bushfires are burning across vast swathes of Australia's east coast - including the area around Sydney.

The spate of blazes across New South Wales (NSW) have left three people dead and destroyed more than 300 homes.

But authorities say the worst is "still ahead" as hot and dry conditions are expected to continue.

Around 3,000 firefighters have been on the ground battling the flames in NSW, a state home to around six million.

"We've got the worst of the summer still ahead of us," said NSW Rural Fire Services Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.

Mr Fitzimmons said nothing except rain would make "any discernible difference to conditions".

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