The Bureau of Meteorology said that Australia has set a record for its hottest day ever for a second straight day, with an average national temperature of 41.9 degrees Celsius (107.4 Fahrenheit), one degree higher than the previous mark.
Officials said the new maximum was reached Wednesday and it topped the previous record of 40.3 C in January 2013.
Amid the heatwave that has exacerbated bushfires, the Australian police are hunting for thieves who stole 300,000 litres of water.
The police said that the thieves are wanted for draining water from two tanks on a property in Evans Plains, a hamlet about three hours west of Sydney in New South Wales state.
A police spokesman said that they would like to speak with anyone who saw water trucks or vehicles fitted with equipment/ability to cart water in the Evans Plains area.
In the driest spring that has hit Australia, New South Wales region has been the hardest hit. Numerous towns have been running out of water and ranchers are being forced to sell livestock.
