Thousands of Australians have fled their homes after strong winds and high temperatures made one of the worst bushfires in decades impossible to bring under control.
More than 30 homes are feared to have been destroyed by the blazes in Adelaide Hills, with struggling firefighters warning it could be days before the flames are brought to manageable levels.
Hundreds more properties are at risk and residents of 19 communities have been asked to evacuate.
The state's Country Fire Service said the fires, which broke out Friday in the Mount Lofty Ranges east of Adelaide, were continuing to burn in all directions, threatening lives.
But a cool weather change on Sunday is expected to help them work to contain the blazes ahead of a forecast rise in temperatures again on Wednesday.
"I can confirm that 12 homes have been destroyed and it's feared that a further 20 homes have also been lost," South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill said.
"However, the conditions for firefighting have improved. The weather is cooler and the weather conditions will permit aerial firefighting.
"This is important because it is forecasted that we will have worsening weather conditions on Wednesday so it's critical that we make headway on reducing the active edges of this fire front."
More than 11,000 hectares (27,200 acres) have been burnt in the area.
South Australian Police have also confirmed an elderly man and woman are missing in the fire zone.
Police Commissioner Gary Burns said the pair had been reported missing from separate properties in Lenswood and Cudlee Creek.
"Teams are moving to those locations now to check their welfare," he said on Sunday evening.
It was not clear if they were missing or had taken refuge elsewhere, Mr Burns said, but teams were heading to the towns to check on them.
No serious injuries have been reported so far, but 22 people, mostly firefighters, have been treated for minor injuries, mainly smoke inhalation.
Hundreds of firefighters from the neighbouring states of Victoria and New South Wales are teaming up with their South Australian counterparts, taking the total number of crew battling the blazes to more than 800.
State officials said these were the worst fire conditions they had seen for 30 years.
In 1983, the bushfires of Ash Wednesday killed more than 70 people in South Australia and Victoria, and destroyed thousands of homes and buildings.
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