Residents stranded as Australia fires escalate

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An Australian town has spent the night cut off by bushfires as volatile weather whips up the most significant threat for almost a week.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned Friday would be "a difficult day in the eastern states" amid forecasts of heat, strong winds and dry lightning.

In South Australia, one town on Kangaroo Island faced an abrupt threat.

Erratic winds on Thursday amplified a blaze which isolated the island's biggest town, Kingscote, from roads.


Some residents spent the night sleeping close to the water's edge, but ferry services were expected to resume on Friday.

In parts of Victoria and New South Wales (NSW), authorities urged people to leave their homes "to avoid tragedy".