Emergency Declared as Australia Wildfire Death Toll Rises to 20
- Prime minister heckled over bushfire response as anger mounts
- Tourists evacuated ahead of extremely dangerous conditions
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The death toll from wildfires sweeping Australia climbed to 20 on Friday as authorities declared a state of emergency and ordered thousands of tourists to evacuate before extreme conditions at the weekend.
Ten people have been killed this week alone by the infernos in New South Wales and Victoria states that have cut-off communities, destroyed hundreds of homes and shocked the world with images of holiday-makers forced to shelter on beaches.