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Australia fire toll 'to increase' Australia fire toll 'to increase'
(about 3 hours later)
Australian officials have warned that the death toll from wildfires that have already killed 131 people in the state of Victoria is likely to rise further. The number of deaths from wildfires that have already claimed 131 lives in the Australian state of Victoria is likely to rise, officials have warned.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the numbers were "numbing" and warned the nation to prepare for more bad news.Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the numbers were "numbing" and warned the nation to prepare for more bad news.
Troops and emergency crews are still battling about 25 fires - two of which are threatening urban areas.Troops and emergency crews are still battling about 25 fires - two of which are threatening urban areas.
Some towns have been almost completely destroyed by the fires, with arson suspected in some cases.Some towns have been almost completely destroyed by the fires, with arson suspected in some cases.
An area of 3,000 sq km (1,200 sq miles) has been affected.An area of 3,000 sq km (1,200 sq miles) has been affected.
Firefighters say temperatures have dropped and conditions have improved, allowing them to get some of the blazes under control. Firefighters say temperatures have dropped and conditions have improved, allowing them to bring some of the fires under control.
But two fires north-east of Melbourne are still described as major concerns.But two fires north-east of Melbourne are still described as major concerns.
One is threatening hamlets near to the town of Beechworth, and the other is the Murrindindi Mill fire, which is moving north-eastwards, threatening the township of Taggerty. One is threatening hamlets near the town of Beechworth, and the other is the Murrindindi Mill fire, which is moving north-eastwards, threatening the township of Taggerty.
'Mass murder' 'Furnace-like heat'
Mr Rudd announced an immediate aid package of A$10m ($7m) and said damaged areas would take years to rebuild. Shocking stories are emerging from survivors in the worst-hit areas.
"That's why we have deployed the army, that's why we will be deploying every possible resource," he said.
AUSTRALIAN BUSH FIRES 16 February 1983: 75 dead, 2,300 homes destroyed in "Ash Wednesday" bushfires in Victoria and South Australia8 January 1969: At least 22 dead, 230 homes lost in rural Victoria7 February 1967: 62 dead, 1,300 homes destroyed in fires in Hobart, Tasmania13 January 1939: 71 dead, 700 homes destroyed in "Black Friday" fires in VictoriaFebruary - March 1922: 60 die in Gippsland, eastern Victoria 'Pretty certain my house has gone'AUSTRALIAN BUSH FIRES 16 February 1983: 75 dead, 2,300 homes destroyed in "Ash Wednesday" bushfires in Victoria and South Australia8 January 1969: At least 22 dead, 230 homes lost in rural Victoria7 February 1967: 62 dead, 1,300 homes destroyed in fires in Hobart, Tasmania13 January 1939: 71 dead, 700 homes destroyed in "Black Friday" fires in VictoriaFebruary - March 1922: 60 die in Gippsland, eastern Victoria 'Pretty certain my house has gone'
Officials believe some of the fires might have been started deliberately, an accusation Mr Rudd described as "a level of horror that few of us anticipated". The BBC's Nick Bryant, at a relief centre in the hamlet of Whittlesea - near the devastated town of Kinglake - said people thought they had hours when in fact they only had minutes to escape the fast advancing flames.
"There are no words to describe it other than mass murder," he said. Some described escaping down roads lined with burning trees, while their cars caught fire in the furnace-like heat.
Another man said he siphoned off the water from his vehicle's radiator to try to save the life of a neighbour who had been set alight.
Karen Farthing, a nurse in the emergency department of Victoria hospital, said people had been struggling to get to work because roads were blocked and trees had fallen.
"[Here] it has been very busy. We've been treating firemen with burns, and sadly getting lots of dead on arrivals," she told the BBC News website.
A former Melbourne newsreader, Brian Naylor, and his wife were among those killed on Saturday when the flames took hold in the Kinglake district.
Many residents of fire-ravaged towns are now embroiled in a desperate search for friends and relatives missing since the flames tore through the tiny communities.Many residents of fire-ravaged towns are now embroiled in a desperate search for friends and relatives missing since the flames tore through the tiny communities.
Reuters reported that shocked residents wandered the streets of the hamlet of Whittlesea - near the devastated town of Kinglake - some crying, searching for missing relatives. 'Mass murder'
Whittlesea resident Sam Gents told the agency he had not heard from his wife Tina and three young children since the flames swept through Kinglake. Mr Rudd has announced an immediate aid package of A$10m ($7m) and said damaged areas would take years to rebuild.
"The last anyone saw of them, the kids were running in the house, they were blocked in the house," he said.
The authorities have sealed off Kinglake as bodies are still being recovered.
"If they let me up the mountain I know where to go [to try and find them]," Mr Gents said.
'Shock and sadness'
As the fires recede, shocking stories are emerging from survivors in the worst-hit areas.
The Melbourne Age newspaper quoted one woman describing the arrival of a badly burnt man and his daughter seeking shelter on a patch of open ground.
Australia is a tough country to live in - we have had no rain for eight weeks and that is why so much is burning Alison Blakeley, Melbourne Your comments: Australian firesNick Bryant: Worst of daysAustralia is a tough country to live in - we have had no rain for eight weeks and that is why so much is burning Alison Blakeley, Melbourne Your comments: Australian firesNick Bryant: Worst of days
"He had skin hanging off him everywhere and his little girl was burnt, but not as badly as her dad," she said. "That's why we have deployed the army, that's why we will be deploying every possible resource," he said.
"He just came down and he said 'Look, I've lost my wife, I've lost my other kid, I just need you to save [my daughter]'." Officials believe some of the weekend's fires might have been started deliberately, an accusation Mr Rudd described as "a level of horror that few of us anticipated".
"There are no words to describe it other than mass murder," he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard told parliament that 7 February 2009 would be remembered "as one of the darkest days in Australia's history".
Tens of thousands of firefighters have been 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.Tens of thousands of firefighters have been 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.
Australia's head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, has spoken of her "shock and sadness" at the number of deaths, and has praised the extraordinary work of the emergency crews at the scene.Australia's head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, has spoken of her "shock and sadness" at the number of deaths, and has praised the extraordinary work of the emergency crews at the scene.
The British and New Zealand governments have both offered to help deal with the fires.The British and New Zealand governments have both offered to help deal with the fires.
The Australian Red Cross, which has about 400 volunteers working in Victoria, has launched an appeal for donations.The Australian Red Cross, which has about 400 volunteers working in Victoria, has launched an appeal for donations.
Bush fires are common in Australia, but the current blazes have eclipsed the death toll from what had been the previous worst fire in 1983, when 75 people died on a day that became known as Ash Wednesday.Bush fires are common in Australia, but the current blazes have eclipsed the death toll from what had been the previous worst fire in 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 below:Are you in the area affected by the fires? Tell us your story using the form 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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