A TERRIFYING "lava" picture shows ferocious flames tearing across a hillside in Australia.

Burning Sydney was declared the hottest place on earth as fierce bushfires continue to rip through the city - killing at least 26 people.

12 The incredible snap of a burning hillside looks like lava

12 Aerial pictures show the large scale fires as they wreak havoc across Australia Credit: AFP or licensors

12 A firefighter works to contain a bushfire as it rages in Ulladulla, New South Wales Credit: EPA

12 Crews work to put the fires out in NSW after thousands of homes have been destroyed Credit: EPA

12 Families evacuated by air from Mallacoota Credit: Getty - Contributor

12 A NPWS firefighting Landcruiser lies burnt on in Kangaroo Valley Credit: Getty - Contributor

Euroa resident Melissa Ericksen captured the extraordinary image of Balmattum Hill glowing in the dark on Saturday night.

She said: "Balmattum Hill is really glowing tonight, however not as much as all of our incredible & selfless emergency services. Thank you."

Maindample Rural Fire Brigade shared her photo on its Facebook page, adding the comment: "looks like lava".

Ericksen said she watched the fires develop on Saturday with more than 40 fire trucks, three aircraft and three helicopters battling the blazes.

She said: "The photo is beautiful yet terrifying."

'BEAUTIFUL BUT TERRIFYING'

It came as heartbreaking footage emerged of the charred remains of dead koalas and kangaroos - as experts fear the devastating Australian wildfires have killed a BILLION animals.

A horrific video shows the chilling scenes of burnt animal corpses lining the road of Batlow in New South Wales - one of the areas worst hit by the infernos over the weekend.

Temperatures in Sydney rocketed to 48.9C (120F) – the highest ever recorded in the nation’s biggest city.

While in the capital Canberra, the mercury tipped 44C (111F).

At least 26 people have died in the fires as well as millions of animals that have perished.

Australian fire crews are currently mounting a massive water bombing effort to try and contain a huge blaze burning in western Sydney.

The fire tearing through the 264,000-hectare Green Wattle Creek on Sydney’s southwestern outskirts has increased and it is now too late for people in the area to leave, fire chiefs warned.

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The New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) said: "It is too late to leave.

"Seek shelter as the fire approaches.

"The safest option is to plan how you will safely take shelter indoors as conditions worsen. Leaving now would be deadly."

12 Residents look on as flames burn through bush Credit: Getty Images - Getty

12 A large tree burns along Bendalong Road, near Manyana Credit: New York Times

Raging fires continued to burn today in East Gippsland, Victoria Credit: Getty Images - Getty

12 Mike holds his daughter Ella as the skies above go red in the middle of the day amid raging fires Credit: Getty - Contributor

12 Firefighters tackle a bushfire in thick smoke in the town of Moruya, south of Batemans Bay, in New South Wales Credit: AFP or licensors

12 Day turns tonight as flames and smoke descend into the skies above New South Wales Credit: Getty - Contributor

12 Satellite image shows huge plume of smoke travelling across Australia Credit: AFP