Sydney - At least 14 people are dead in forest fires that Friday ravaged Australia's south-east corner.

High winds and record-breaking temperatures combined to create tinder-box conditions in forests north of Melbourne in the state of Victoria.

Fires, some deliberately lit, devoured hundred of homes and may have led to dozens of deaths.

"This is an absolute tragedy for the state and we believe the figure may even get worse," deputy police commissioner Kieran Walshe said. "We base that on the fact that we're only just getting into the these areas now ... the figure could get into the 40s."

Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city, recorded is hottest February day, with the temperature above 44 degrees. Outside the city of over 3 million people temperatures were higher.

Officials warned of a possible repeat of the blazes in 1983 that left 75 people dead.

"The fire intensity is such that none of our tactics will have any effect at all on the headfire in most situations," said deputy fire chief Greg Anof. "So it's really a matter of asset protection, of houses where you can, of trying to pick up flanks where the fire behaviour might be a bit more moderate, but a day like today, it's just impossible." (dpa)