Australian emergency services have lost contact with one of the aircraft that worked to extinguish large-scale forest fires in the east of the continent, Trust reported.

"Local ground crews indicate the aircraft may have crashed," the fire service said in a statement. "A number of helicopters are in the area carrying out a search."

"The fire may pose a threat to all lives directly in its path. People in these suburbs are in danger and need to seek immediate shelter as the fire approaches," the Australian Capital Territory Emergency Services Agency said.

Roads are blocked in the region and the supply of electricity is partially stopped, interruptions in railway traffic are observed. Canberra Airport temporarily stopped working due to heavy smoke.