Bushfires continue to tear through Victoria's east, with authorities fearing lightning may spark fresh blazes as hotter temperatures lash the state on Saturday.
Almost 50 fires were raging in Victoria on Friday evening, predominantly in East Gippsland, the alpine region and the northeast.
There are 28 people missing in East Gippsland, in addition to two men confirmed dead in the fires.
Communities in the worst-hit areas have been urged to evacuate and emergency warnings - the highest alert level - were in place for five fires late on Friday night.
Smoke billows from a fire burning at East Gippsland, Victoria. Source: DELWP GIPPSLAND
Temperatures are expected to creep higher on Saturday, with parts of Gippsland forecast to hit 40C and areas of the northeast to reach 45C, before a gusty southerly change in the afternoon.
But the change won't bring a reprieve from the risk of dry lightning, which Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp says could mean new fires.
Victoria's Emergency Management Commissioner, Andrew Crisp, addresses the media. Source: AAP
"Don't just be focused on the fires we've got at the moment. Be thinking about where there would be other fires," he warned Victorians on Thursday.
Mr Crisp said it is also possible some current fires could merge on Saturday or the days to follow, including a blaze in Corryong in the northeast and another in southern NSW.
Total fire bans have been declared on Saturday for the Mallee, Northern Country, North Central, North East, East Gippsland, West and South Gippsland weather districts.
An unprecedented state of disaster was declared on Thursday, triggering powers introduced after the devastating 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, including allowing authorities to compel people to leave.
Areas covered by the declaration are the East Gippsland Shire, Mansfield Shire, Wellington Shire, Wangaratta Rural Shire, Towong Shire and Alpine Shire. It also covers Mount Buller, Mount Hotham and the Mount Stirling Alpine Resorts.
Evacuation alerts were in place late on Friday night for blazes near the Buchan Valley, Abbeyard, Bruthen and surrounds, the upper Snowy area, and north of Mount Taylor.
Emergency warnings were active for a blaze near Corryong in the northeast and for Biggara, Towong and surrounding communties.
Others are in place for East Gippsland's Anglers Rest, Goongerah, Bendoc, Bonang and Cabanandra.
The fire danger has also spread to Victoria's west, with an emergency warning issued for a blaze at Wade Junction, near Nelson.
More than 780,000 hectares have already been razed and two people found dead in East Gippsland, including Buchan man Mick Roberts at his home on Wednesday.
A second man's body was later found in the fire zone at a Maramingo Creek property, near Genoa. He is believed to have suffered a medical episode while fighting the fires.
About 1200 people who had been stranded in the coastal town of Mallacoota were bundled onto two naval ships Friday, bound for the Mornington Peninsula.
Navy vessels have evacuated residents hemmed in by fire at Mallacoota in Victoria's East Gippsland. Source: AAP
The first 60 evacuees who fled on the MV Sycamore are expected to arrive at Hastings, at Western Port, on Saturday morning, with at least some heading to a relief centre at nearby Somerville.
Another 1100 will reach the site on HMAS Choules in the afternoon, at the end of a journey of almost 20 hours .
