Family take refuge in water as Australian wildfires rage on THESE dramatic pictures show a family in the Tasmanian town of Dunalley taking refuge under a jetty as a wildfire rages nearby. Though no deaths have been reported from the wildifres, around 100 people haven't been accounted for since a blaze destroyed around 90 homes in the Tasmanian town last week. Record temperatures cool The danger from scores of raging wildfires was reduced on Wednesday as record temperatures across southern Australia cooled. Australia's hottest day on record was noted on Monday, with an average nationwide temperature of 40.33 degrees Celsius. Tuesday was the third hottest day, with temperatures reaching 40.11 C. With Wednesday's cool-down in southern Australia, the national capital, Canberra, dropped from a high of 36 C (97 F) on Tuesday to 28 C (82 F) and Sydney dropped from 43 C (109 F) to 23 C (73 F). Around 200 fires were being battled by firefighters across Australia's southeast. The cooler conditions meant that firefighters were given the chance to build earth breaks in order to try and contain the blazes. Devastating fires The fires in Tasmania have been devastating, with more than 80,000 hectares of land burned and at least 128 homes destroyed since Friday. Two evacuation centres in the south of the state are currently housing hundreds of people. Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings said: "People have lost everything. We can't comprehend that devastation unless we are in their shoes. In Victoria state, which lies to the north of Tasmania, six people were injured, nine homes were destroyed and the farming community of Carngham west of the city of Ballarat were evecuated, said the Country Fire Authority. 141 fires were being battled in New South Wales, including 31 that had not been contained.