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| Australia fires rage with 25 dead | Australia fires rage with 25 dead |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Australian emergency crews are stepping up their efforts to tackle wildfires that have ripped through the state of Victoria, killing 25 people. | Australian emergency crews are stepping up their efforts to tackle wildfires that have ripped through the state of Victoria, killing 25 people. |
| About 30,000 firefighters are battling nine major fires, and the authorities say they expect more fatalities. | About 30,000 firefighters are battling nine major fires, and the authorities say they expect more fatalities. |
| Victoria Premier John Brumby said he was considering an offer from the federal government to send in the army. | Victoria Premier John Brumby said he was considering an offer from the federal government to send in the army. |
| Entire townships have been destroyed in the fires, fanned by soaring temperatures and unpredictable winds. | Entire townships have been destroyed in the fires, fanned by soaring temperatures and unpredictable winds. |
| Forecasters are predicting more extremely hot weather in the region - which has seen record temperatures of 47C (117F) in recent days. | Forecasters are predicting more extremely hot weather in the region - which has seen record temperatures of 47C (117F) in recent days. |
| 'Absolutely horrific' | 'Absolutely horrific' |
| Officials say they are battling against the worst fire conditions in the state's history. | Officials say they are battling against the worst fire conditions in the state's history. |
| Witnesses described seeing walls of flames, trees exploding and the skies raining ash, as fires tore across 30,000 hectares (115 sq miles) of forests, farmland and towns. | Witnesses described seeing walls of flames, trees exploding and the skies raining ash, as fires tore across 30,000 hectares (115 sq miles) of forests, farmland and towns. |
| The school's gone, the hall's gone... some people left it too late Strathewen resident | The school's gone, the hall's gone... some people left it too late Strathewen resident |
| At least 100 homes have been destroyed in Victoria and about 14,000 homes are without power. | At least 100 homes have been destroyed in Victoria and about 14,000 homes are without power. |
| Most of the people who died came from a cluster of small towns to the north of Melbourne. | |
| Six people died in the township of Kinglake, four at Wandong, three at Strathewen and one at Clonbinane. | |
| One Strathewen resident told ABC local radio how people had witnessed "absolutely horrific" scenes as they had helped battle the flames. | |
| "The school's gone, the hall's gone... some people left it too late. We've lost friends, and we're just waiting for more - children, loved ones," she said. | "The school's gone, the hall's gone... some people left it too late. We've lost friends, and we're just waiting for more - children, loved ones," she said. |
| The town of Marysville, with about 500 residents, was said to have been burned to the ground. | The town of Marysville, with about 500 residents, was said to have been burned to the ground. |
| Local fire officer Greg Esnouf said: "We're starting to get some reports in now that are very saddening. This latest report says Marysville possibly one building left standing - that's just shocking." | Local fire officer Greg Esnouf said: "We're starting to get some reports in now that are very saddening. This latest report says Marysville possibly one building left standing - that's just shocking." |
| Residents were reported to be safe after they sheltered from the blaze in a local park. | Residents were reported to be safe after they sheltered from the blaze in a local park. |
| 'Tragic day' | 'Tragic day' |
| If winds pick up, the authorities fear fire could spreadTens of thousands of firefighters are trying to contain blazes in two other states - New South Wales and South Australia - but the fires there were largely contained or burning away from residential areas. | If winds pick up, the authorities fear fire could spreadTens of thousands of firefighters are trying to contain blazes in two other states - New South Wales and South Australia - but the fires there were largely contained or burning away from residential areas. |
| The fire service is using water-bombing aircraft to contain fires and thousands of volunteers are using water hoses. | The fire service is using water-bombing aircraft to contain fires and thousands of volunteers are using water hoses. |
| "It's obviously a tragic day and a tragic week in our history," Mr Brumby said. | "It's obviously a tragic day and a tragic week in our history," Mr Brumby said. |
| He said he was considering an offer from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to send the army in to relieve overstretched emergency crews. | He said he was considering an offer from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to send the army in to relieve overstretched emergency crews. |
| Bushfires are common in Australia, but the current blazes are the most deadly since 1983, when 75 people died on a day that became known as Ash Wednesday. | Bushfires are common in Australia, but the current blazes are the most deadly since 1983, when 75 people died on a day that became known as Ash Wednesday. |
| Are you in the area affected by the fires? Tell us your story using the form far below. | Are you in the area affected by the fires? Tell us your story using the form far below. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. |
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