Disaster declared as NSW firefighters continue to battle 20 uncontained bushfires

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has warned of a “difficult” summer bushfire season ahead, as a natural disaster is declared in parts of New South Wales and crews battling more than 70 fires brace for unfavourable winds on Sunday. The most destructive blaze – an out-of-control bushfire at Koolewong, not far from built-up areas of the Central Coast – destroyed more than 12 homes on Saturday. Another four homes were lost at Bulahdelah on the mid-north coast. Of the act