Australia is facing one of the worst bushfires ever witnessed. The Eastern and Southern coast are in flames with New South Wales being the worst affected. The fire, since September, has killed about 19 people and left many more missing.

One of the worst affected areas is New South Wales, where more than 4 million hectares have already burned. Australian authorities on Thursday declared a state of emergency and forced evacuation of residents, tourists and closure of roads in the bushfire zones in the states of New South Wales and Victoria. The reasons of the fires have been deduced to extreme temperatures this season, drier winds and a drought.

The extensive fire has also caused a major loss to the Australian wildlife. According to WWF, it has been estimated that over 480 million animals have been killed in the NSW bushfires since September. This includes the death of thousands of koalas, with many more injured and countless are now homeless.

A dense cover of smoke can be spotted across various cities. The fire has also affected Australia&rsquos neighbours, including New Zealand. The NSW Rural Fire Service&rsquos website has been continuously updating the list of incidents and the warning systems, if any. The list can be accessed here.

In an attempt to minimize the damage, certain organizations are accepting donations. One can donate to the Australian Red Cross, NSW Rural Fire Service, St Vincent de Paul Society, Country Fire Authority, Victoria, Port Macquarie Koala Hospital and WWF.