Authorities issued new fire bans, warnings, and evacuation notices in parts of Australia on Thursday, as deadly wildfires continue to burn in the oceanic country hit by its hottest and driest year on record.

So far, 26 people have died, thousands are homeless, and academics believe over one billion mammals have been killed or injured in the devastating fires that have scorched more than 10.3 million hectares (25.5 million acres) of land, equivalent to South Korea.

Many towns were without power and telecommunications, and some were running low on drinking water supplies. The smoke has blanketed major cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra, and drifted across the Pacific, affecting cities in South America.

Firefighters have been making the most of a few days of cooler temperatures to prepare for the return of heat and wind later this week, which is expected to fan existing blazes and spark new ones.

At present, firefighters from the U.S., New Zealand, and other countries have come to help deal with the catastrophic natural disaster. Many celebrities, including ‎Chris Hemsworth, donated money to help the victims. 

Australia's weather agency said on Thursday it saw no sign of cooler weather or significant rainfall in the next few months, adding that 2019 was the country's hottest and driest on record.

A warning for residents of Victoria state's northeastern region to leave after fires escalated overnight was downgraded to "wait and watch" as authorities monitored conditions. A town on Kangaroo Island, which was ravaged by the fires, was being evacuated over fears bushfires still burning there may escalate.

The majority of the fires that have destroyed most of Australia's east coast occurred in New South Wales, where 1,870 homes have been destroyed so far, authorities said.

New South Wales on Thursday announced new funds of one billion Australian dollars (686.5 million U.S. dollars) to rebuild infrastructure and communities affected by the catastrophe.

"We don't want to simply rebuild the communities, we want them to thrive. And this one billion Australia dollars investment will do just that," said New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

Australia's bushfire season started earlier than normal following a three-year drought that has left much of the country's bush land vulnerable to fires.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, on Wednesday, urged foreign tourists not to be deterred by deadly wildfires, fearing holidaymakers staying away could hurt the economy, as some normally crowded resorts have already turned into ghost towns.

(With input from Reuters)