Victorian Bushfires

Ra · 02-08-2009, 05:44 AM

700+ homes destroyed... about 85 people dead, along with a famous newscaster that I grew up watching and his wife... and one town actually burnt off the face of the earth completely.
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84 dead, hundreds of homes lost, as bushfires rage through Victoria

AT least 84 people are dead in the bushfires ripping through Victoria, in a disaster which has eclipsed the state's Ash Wednesday devastation of two decades ago.

Authorities are continuing a grim search for more bodies as horrific eyewitness accounts emerge from devastated communities. It was estimated at least 750 homes had been lost - 550 of them in the Kinglake area.

Victoria Police have confired 84 deaths, but the final toll could rise much higher as authorities move further into the affected towns.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced emergency relief funding for the state, saying "Hell in all its fury had visited ... many good people lie dead".

Whole towns have been destroyed and thousands of people left homeless with record temperatures and fierce winds sparking devastating infernos.

The town of Marysville was reported to have been wiped out, but the Country Fire Authority (CFA) said many residents had made it to emergency shelter in a local park.

More destruction and power blackouts are possible, with up to a dozen fires still burning out of control. And it has been reported that arsonists are suspected of relighting some fires after fire crews had brought them under control.

The worst bushfire to strike Victoria was the 1983 Ash Wednesday disaster when 47 people were killed in the state.
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Full story here: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...006785,00.html

02-08-2009, 05:44 AM	#1
Ra It's my desire? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In your pants. Posts: 4,441	Victorian Bushfires 700+ homes destroyed... about 85 people dead, along with a famous newscaster that I grew up watching and his wife... and one town actually burnt off the face of the earth completely. ---------------------------- 84 dead, hundreds of homes lost, as bushfires rage through Victoria AT least 84 people are dead in the bushfires ripping through Victoria, in a disaster which has eclipsed the state's Ash Wednesday devastation of two decades ago. Authorities are continuing a grim search for more bodies as horrific eyewitness accounts emerge from devastated communities. It was estimated at least 750 homes had been lost - 550 of them in the Kinglake area. Victoria Police have confired 84 deaths, but the final toll could rise much higher as authorities move further into the affected towns. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced emergency relief funding for the state, saying "Hell in all its fury had visited ... many good people lie dead". Whole towns have been destroyed and thousands of people left homeless with record temperatures and fierce winds sparking devastating infernos. The town of Marysville was reported to have been wiped out, but the Country Fire Authority (CFA) said many residents had made it to emergency shelter in a local park. More destruction and power blackouts are possible, with up to a dozen fires still burning out of control. And it has been reported that arsonists are suspected of relighting some fires after fire crews had brought them under control. The worst bushfire to strike Victoria was the 1983 Ash Wednesday disaster when 47 people were killed in the state. ---------------------------- Full story here: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...006785,00.html __________________ "So. The whole lot of you against little old me? How retarded." Last edited by Ra; 02-08-2009 at 06:53 AM.