Live coverage: Mass evacuations amid Victoria bushfire emergency

Not everyone benefited from the ADF's help today. Some of the most vulnerable people there were told they could not be evacuated.

Victorians in the state’s worst-hit bushfire regions are being urged to leave, with conditions expected to deteriorate further heading into the weekend.

Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed Thursday night that a second person had died in the East Gippsland region, but could not reveal the man's identity.

This morning Mr Andrews said the number of people missing in East Gippsland had jumped to 28 people, from the previous estimate of 17. None of them are emergency services personnel.

For NSW updates, please follow our other live blog.

A state of disaster has been declared for six local government areas and three alpine resorts across Victoria.

The declaration involves powers introduced in the aftermath of devastating 2009 blazes which have never been used before, including the power to compel people to evacuate.

The areas covered by the declaration, which has been made for seven days, are East Gippsland Shire, Mansfield Shire, Wellington Shire, Wangaratta Rural Shire, Towong Shire and Alpine Shire.

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