Australia-Heatwave.

Australia the worse heat wave in the nations history has caused havoc to farmers and is believed to have caused the deaths of six people.

Yesterday provided some relief, although authorities warned the risks were not over. Temperatures are expected to stay high for the next five days and they remained above 40 degrees in many towns in the state’s north yesterday.

As relieved Melburnians enjoyed a comparatively mild 30.5-degree day, the impact of three days above 40 degrees began to emerge.

Deputy Police Commissioner Kieran Walshe said officers had reported extreme heat was the probable cause of six deaths on Friday.

Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry spokesman Chris James estimated the economic cost of the heatwave at more than $100 million. The cancellation of more than 1300 train services last week contributed to a leap in absenteeism, while hundreds of building sites and factories ground to a standstill.

In Gippsland, at least 23 houses were lost, mostly around Boolarra. More than 500 firefighters fought a blaze that came within two kilometres of power lines that carry the majority of Melbourne’s electricity from the LaTrobe Valley.

The political heat also rose, with the Government unable to rule out further blackouts and transport chaos. Premier John Brumby defended the Government’s handling of the crisis.

"The (power) line through South Morang literally exploded in the heat (on Friday) and I don’t know if anybody could ever have prevented that from occurring," he said on Sky News.

But Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said the Government had failed to invest in basic infrastructure.