Fears huge Victorian bushfire and NSW inferno could 'suck each other in' forming one mega blaze

Residents are being urged to flee as two major bushfires on either side of the Victoria and New South Wales border threaten to merge - creating a mega blaze in just a matter of hours. And the wind change combined with the hot and dry conditions could see the bushfires 'suck each other in' Roads out of East Gippsland were packed with people desperate to leave the area before Saturday as strong winds and dry conditions are predicted to cause more bushfires This map shows how firefighters expect the bushfires on the Victorian-New South Wales boarder to spread as the weekend begins 'With that change coming through later it could coincide with peak heating around 5pm or 6pm for the South Coast. A smoke haze covered the coastal town as hundreds of people boarded boats headed for military ships as part of the evacuation on Friday Commanding Officer HMAS Choules, Commander Scott Houlihan addresses a community meeting in Mallacoota, Victoria where the public was informed of the ADF's evacuation plan People trapped in the Corryong relief centre have been escorted by authorities along the Murray Valley Highway towards Tallangatta in groups when conditions allowed as water supplies reach critical levels. HMAS Choules' Fast Recovery Craft departs the ship on her way to Mallacoota, Victoria to meet local authorities in preparation to conduct an evacuation A kangaroo rushes past a burning house in Conjola on New Year's Eve, as officials prepare for a 'horrible day' on Saturday, with blistering temperatures and high winds likely to make conditions far worse Those fires have claimed at least two lives, taking the death toll for Australia's catastrophic fire season to 18 -however, there are fears that will only increase as at least 28 people are still missing in East Gippsland. Two confirmed deaths including - Buchan resident Mick Roberts There are 28 people who remain missing in Gippsland Ten watch and act warnings in place across the state, the second highest warning level About 50 fires are still burning in the state A 'very active' fire at Ensay in the Swift's Creek Valley with more blazes around Hotham and Omeo More than 1,000 firefighters are working across the state There are between 3,000 to 4,000 people stranded in Mallacoota and they are being asked to register for navy evacuation.