Warning: This article contains images and footage which some readers may find distressing
Horrendous images have emerged that bring home the true scale of the devastation currently being caused in Australia as a result of the ongoing bushfires.
In the town of Batlow in New South Wales, the charred and burned corpses of animals including sheep, kangaroos and koalas line the main road in and out of the town.
The air is still thick with smoke from the blazes, but the people have started to return to the town and are realising the extent of the damage done.
Some of the photographs shared show the carcasses of livestock piled up by the edges of fields that they'd tried to escape from as the fires came closer.
The sheep may have tried to escape from the fields in order to save themselves.
ABC cameraman Matt Roberts tweeted: "Absolutely gut wrenching driving into Batlow this morning, never seen anything like it.
"Sorry to have to share these images... it's completely heartbreaking. Worst thing I've seen. Story must be told."
It is thought that many of the homes on the outskirts of the town have been destroyed by the fires, and a 47-year-old man has also died following a heart attack suffered whilst defending his friend's home.
David Harrison travelled to the town of Batlow from Goulburn to try to assist his friend Geoff, who was battling to save his property.
Mr Harrison's brother told 9 News that his brother would 'do anything for anyone' and will be remembered as a hero.
Peter Harrison said: "He didn't want to leave Geoff on his own. He was just that sort of guy. He would help anyone at the drop of a hat - he would drive hours to help you.
"He's a hero in our eyes."
At the time of his heart attack, Harrison was returning to his car to refill the water they were using to fight the blaze.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
It was a difficult day across the state of New South Wales yesterday. NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said: "It was an awful day yesterday. It was a very difficult day.
"We are getting reports that the property losses, the damage and destruction, is likely to be numbering in the hundreds as a result of yesterday's fire activity and fire spread.
"We're talking a considerable number, a considerable impact."
Mercifully, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed that, as of Sunday, there are no people missing in the fires.
She told reporters: "That's a huge relief. Our mission yesterday was to save life. Our mission during the night was to save human life."
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: World News, Australia