Australian authorities are searching for bodies among the charred ruins of more than 100 homes and other buildings destroyed by wildfires in the island state of Tasmania.

Acting Police Commissioner Scott Tilyard said on Monday no casualties had yet been reported. But it would take time before officials were certain that no one had died in the blazes that razed 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) of forests and farmland across southern Tasmania since Friday.

Police has concerns for about 100 people reported missing. Tilyard said 11 teams were searching ruins in places including the small town of Dunalley, east of the state capital Hobart, where around 70 homes were destroyed.

Three fires were burning out of control in southern Tasmania on Monday.