Two Australian provinces have declared states of emergency as more than 120 bushfires are expected to grow, putting schools and homes in the Sydney suburbs at risk.

Three people have died and thousands have been displaced by the blazes so far as they approach population hubs across the east coast.

In New South Wales (NSW) fires have ravaged almost a million hectares of land while destroying 150 homes, and nine houses have been burnt to the ground in Queensland.

Now officials have declared a state of emergency in both of the highly populated states amid concerns that high temperatures around Sydney on Tuesday could bring renewed danger.

Gladys Berejiklian, head of the NSW state government, said: “The catastrophic weather conditions mean that things can change very quickly.”

She said that the last time a state of emergency was declared in the region was in 2013, when extensive blazes tore through the Blue Mountains to the west of Sydney.

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

She added: “Everybody has to be on alert no matter where you are and everybody has to assume the worst. We cannot allow complacency to creep in.”

Nearly 500 schools are expected to be closed in the suburbs of Sydney and across New South Wales on Tuesday as the nation’s department of education advises a “cautious” approach to the spread of fires.

“We think it’s much better to be cautious now … rather than trying to evacuate potentially hundreds of school students in emergency situations,” education minister Sarah Mitchell told local media.

The spread is also taking its toll on wildlife in the region, with experts estimating at least half of the koalas living on a coastal reserve in New South Wales have been wiped out by bushfires.

Prime minister Scott Morrison tweeted: “I welcome the announcement a state of emergency has been declared in NSW. Catastrophic fire danger is forecast for the Greater Sydney & Hunter areas tomorrow.

“Stay updated on fires in your area & emergency services are advising if you’re in a danger zone, leaving early is best.”

It comes as the prime minister faces criticism for admitting he was yet to consider whether the unprecedented fires were caused by climate change

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Mr Morrison, who oversees the world’s largest coal exporting nation, has come under increasing scrutiny for his approach to climate issues after announcing his opposition to environmental activists earlier this month.

The Australian Green Party’s climate spokesman, Adam Bandt, said: “Scott Morrison has not got the climate crisis under control. Unless we lead a global effort to quit coal & cut pollution, more lives will be lost.”

Mr Morrison’s deputy Michael McCormack said now was not the time for political debate on climate change.