Hundreds of homes are thought to have been destroyed by intense wildfires in southeastern Australia.

Authorities searching for answers to the carnage from Australia’s worst-ever wildfires said today they would rethink current policies of allowing residents to decide for themselves whether to evacuate their homes.

Wild storms lashed eastern Australia overnight, tearing roofs off houses, toppling trees and flooding roads, emergency services said today. At least one person was feared swept away by the surging waters.