ONE of the largest evacuations in Australia’s history was under way today ahead of hot weather and strong winds that are forecast to worsen devastating wildfires raging across the country.

More than 200 fires were burning, and warnings of extreme danger to come on Saturday prompted mass evacuations.

Traffic was gridlocked as people fled and firefighters escorted convoys of evacuees as fires threatened to close roads.

Navy ships were called in to pluck hundreds of people stranded on beaches.

Victoria premier Daniel Andrews declared a disaster across much of the eastern part of the state, allowing the government to order evacuations in an area with as many as 140,000 permanent residents and tens of thousands more tourists.

“If you can leave, you must leave,” Andrews said.

This week, at least 448 homes have been destroyed on the New South Wales southern coast and dozens were burned in Victoria.

Ten deaths have been confirmed in the two states this week, and Victoria authorities also say that 28 people are missing. Fires are also burning in Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania.

Extinction Rebellion Australia spokeswoman Jane Morton told the Star that a climate and ecological emergency was now upon us as people in the country suffer apocalyptic droughts and catastrophic fires.

“Once again, our political representatives are failing us and the unhealthy influence of the coal lobby is all too evident,” Ms Morton said.

“It now seems clearer than ever that rebellion is the only reasonable response.

“XR activists will be on the steps of Parliament House on February 4 this year for the first sitting day of the Australian parliament demanding an emergency response commensurate with the ecological devastation Australia is facing.”