People feared dead in Australia wildfires

The police are scouting the island state of Tasmania in hope to find some 100 people who went missing after the wildfires that tore through the island.

Acting Tasmania police commissioner Scott Tilyard said about 100 people were yet to be accounted for.

"That's not to say that those people necessarily have come to any harm, but obviously we can't totally eliminate that until we've had confirmed contact with those individuals," Tilyard told reporters.

Tilyard said there had been no bodies discovered in the homes searched so far. "We also have to brace ourselves for the fact that we may locate one or more deceased people before we end the process."

Prime Minister Julia Gillard will on Monday tour Dunalley. The government has also warned of further danger across the nation from extreme heat predicted in several states this week.

As the head of state, the British Queen has also sent her condolences to Tasmania, expressing "deep concern" at the destruction and offering her sympathy to those who had lost homes and livelihoods.

"I offer my support and admiration for the firefighters, volunteers and emergency services officers who have been working tirelessly to contain the situation," the Queen said in a written message published by the Australian Associated Press.

Almost 3,000 people were evacuated from their homes and many were stranded Sunday in emergency shelters as the fires raged to the east and west of the state capital Hobart, cutting off roads.