1. 

   Australian authorities managed to stave off a massive bushfire as it neared a coastal township on world heritage-listed Fraser Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef. The blaze, which has been burning since mid-October, has already destroyed half the island off Australia's northeastern coast. Famous for its tropical rainforest and inland lakes, it is the world's largest sand island. Last summer's bushfires, which Prime Minister Scott Morrison has dubbed Australia's "black summer", also killed 33 people and razed over 24 million hectares (59 million acres) in the country. Let us take a look at some of the images:

2. 

   Firefighters have slowed the spread of the fire to the north of the Happy Valley township. (Reuters Photo)

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   No structures have been impacted at this stage due to significant firefighting efforts on the ground. (Reuters Photo)

4. 

   Neighbouring New South Wales state sent an air tanker, joining 23 other waterbombing aircraft battling to extinguish the fire. (Reuters Photo)

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   The Happy Valley township has about 50 residents. About half of them chose to stay and help firefighters protect their homes and properties. (Reuters Photo)

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   Authorities had warned that power, water, and mobile phone service may be lost and road conditions may become very dangerous. (Reuters Photo)

7. 

   An intense heatwave has hit Australia's southeast and northeast in recent days with temperatures reaching well above 40 degree Celsius (104 degree Fahrenheit) in several places. (Reuters Photo)

8. 

   This has raised the risk of bushfires with total fire bans enforced in several regions. (Reuters Photo)

9. 

   It is the first major heatwave of the fire season, which usually runs from the late southern hemisphere spring through summer. (Reuters Photo)

10. 

    Last summer's bush fires razed more than 24 million hectares (59 million acres) of bushland, killing 33 people and billions of native animals, a disaster that Prime Minister Scott Morrison called Australia's "black summer". (Reuters Photo)

11. 

    An aerial view shows smoke following a massive bushfire in Australia's Fraser Island. (Reuters Photo)