Victoria’s Hume Highway was closed last night as severe bushfires raged. Regional trains were cancelled across the state. Firefighters from at least two states are fighting fires during Australia's worst heatwave since 2019-20. Melbourne faces a 41C forecast today. Acting Premier Ben Carroll called Victoria “one of the most bushfire-prone areas in the world.” He also warned of “the real risk of heat-related illness throughout the state tomorrow.” The state health department urged residents to “be prepared – stay hydrated, stay indoors as much as possible and make sure you check-in on loved ones.” Firefighters are bracing for catastrophic fire conditions across many parts of Victoria today after a week of scorching heat. Authorities declared a total fire ban statewide, and parks and camping grounds have been closed. Extra warnings are in place for much of South Australia and the New South Wales Riverina, where extreme fire danger ratings apply. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Meteorology says there is about a 50/50 chance of a tropical cyclone hitting Queensland’s coast this weekend. Stay tuned for more updates.