Temperatures in Australia soared to an average maximum of 41.9C on Wednesday, breaking the record made just the day before as New South Wales declared a seven-day state of emergency.

On Tuesday, the mercury hit 40.9C, beating the previous record of 40.3C which was set in 2013.

NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian announced a state of emergency as 2,000 firefighters battle with about 100 fires across Australia’s most populous state.

Half the blazes remain uncontrolled and firefighters are receiving support from US and Canadian backup teams and personnel from the Australian Defence Force.

The wildfire crisis has seen around 3 million hectares (7.4 million acres) of land burned around the country, killing six people and destroying over 800 homes.

States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Show all 15 1 /15 States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A firefighter works on a bushfire believed to have been sparked by a lightning strike that has ravaged an area of over 2,000 hectares in northern New South Wales state AFP via Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A dehydrated and injured Koala receives treatment at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital AFP via Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A water tanker airplane drops fire retardant on a bushfire in Harrington, New South Wales EPA States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Firefighters tackle a bushfire to save a home in Taree, 350km north of Sydney AFP via Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A kangaroo is seen by the burnt remains of a vintage car in Torrington Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Photo taken on November 9, 2019 shows bushfires taken from a plane in over north eastern New South Wales AFP via Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Andrew Mackenzie surveys the damage around his home in Torrington Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters conduct property protection as a bushfire burns close to homes on Railway Parade in Woodford NSW AP States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (L) comforts 85-year-old resident Owen Whalan at an evacauation centre in Taree 350km north of Sydney AFP via Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Fire burns at Bolivia Hill in Glen Innes Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A resident puts out small fires as he rides his motorcycle in Old Bar, New South Wales EPA States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A fire rages in Bobin, 350km north of Sydney on November 9, 2019, as firefighters try to contain dozens of out-of-control blazes AFP via Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia Construction workers speak as smoke haze drifts over Sydney, Australia EPA States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A vintage Jaguar car sits in ruins after a bushfire destroyed a property in Old Bar, 350km north of Sydney AFP via Getty Images States of emergency declared as bushfires rage across Australia A fire rages in Bobin, 350km north of Sydney AFP via Getty Images

Ms Berejiklian told reporters: “With extreme wind conditions, extreme hot temperatures, we have a good idea… of where the most concerning areas are, but again when you’ve got those turbulent conditions, embers and spot fires can occur very unpredictably.”

Smoke from the fires has sent air pollution levels skyrocketing. Sydney, the capital of NSW, has experienced a thick, hazardous blanket of haze throughout the past month.

Hospitals have seen a 10 per cent rise in patients suffering from respiratory conditions in the past week.

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, conditions are forecast to worsen on Saturday as the heatwave persists.

The Australian government has received a backlash for not giving more urgency to the bushfire crisis and climate change, which has been linked to the fires.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is currently on holiday in Hawaii with his family, though energy minister Angus Taylor doubts he is “having a very significant holiday right now”.