Three more persons lost their lives in the raging Australian bushfires on Wednesday, bringing the total number of deaths since October to 16 in deadly blazes that have forced thousands to seek refuge due to the worst fire crisis that has hit the country in decades.

The fires have also destroyed dozens of homes and left three people wounded in the state that has been battling the deadly inferno since September 2019, Efe news reported. Firefighters are trying to control the flames before Saturday when the temperature is expected to touch the 40 degrees Celsius mark.

“Police have confirmed a further three deaths as a result of the fires on the South Coast,” New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys told reporters. He said a person also remained unaccounted for in the state.

Some 50,000 homes were said to be without power on the south coast of New South Wales, the worst affected state where some 2,500 firefighters are currently battling over 100 blazes raging across the province.