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| Version 12 | Version 13 |
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| Australia to rethink fire policy | Australia to rethink fire policy |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| The Australian government has said it will remove bureaucratic hurdles that have prevented the creation of a nationwide fire alert system. | The Australian government has said it will remove bureaucratic hurdles that have prevented the creation of a nationwide fire alert system. |
| It is thought that such a system could have saved lives at the weekend, when bushfires tore through the state of Victoria, killing at least 181 people. | It is thought that such a system could have saved lives at the weekend, when bushfires tore through the state of Victoria, killing at least 181 people. |
| Meanwhile, more than 150 actors, sports stars, politicians and musicians have taken part in a fundraising telethon. | Meanwhile, more than 150 actors, sports stars, politicians and musicians have taken part in a fundraising telethon. |
| The fires injured some 500 people, and left nearly 5,000 people homeless. | The fires injured some 500 people, and left nearly 5,000 people homeless. |
| Some of Australia's biggest stars involved in the national televised event included actors Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman, Olympian Cathy Freeman and cricketer Shane Warne. | Some of Australia's biggest stars involved in the national televised event included actors Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman, Olympian Cathy Freeman and cricketer Shane Warne. |
| Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced a day of national mourning - the exact date has yet to be decided. | Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced a day of national mourning - the exact date has yet to be decided. |
| He said there would be a memorial service to remember the victims of the bushfires. | He said there would be a memorial service to remember the victims of the bushfires. |
| Fundraising | Fundraising |
| Privacy laws and arguments over funding have been obstacles in the way of a nationwide telephone fire alert system - but the federal government has indicated that it will move quickly to create one. | Privacy laws and arguments over funding have been obstacles in the way of a nationwide telephone fire alert system - but the federal government has indicated that it will move quickly to create one. |
| See map of fires | See map of fires |
| Such a system may have saved lives by sending text messages to mobile phones urging residents to flee. | Such a system may have saved lives by sending text messages to mobile phones urging residents to flee. |
| Police now believe that arsonists were responsible for at least two of the deadly fires. | Police now believe that arsonists were responsible for at least two of the deadly fires. |
| Police released a photo fit of a man wanted over a fire in Ivanhoe Victoria Police Commissioner Christine Nixon said a fire in Churchill - about 90 miles (140km) south-east of Melbourne - which killed at least 21 people, was deliberately started. | |
| She added that it was possible a devastating blaze that killed at least 15 people in the town of Marysville was the work of arsonists. | She added that it was possible a devastating blaze that killed at least 15 people in the town of Marysville was the work of arsonists. |
| Police would charge anyone suspected of starting one of the fatal bushfires with murder by arson, which carries a maximum 25-year jail penalty, she said. | Police would charge anyone suspected of starting one of the fatal bushfires with murder by arson, which carries a maximum 25-year jail penalty, she said. |
| Mr Rudd has described the bushfires as "mass murder", and pledged to rebuild damaged communities, with no limit on federal spending. | Mr Rudd has described the bushfires as "mass murder", and pledged to rebuild damaged communities, with no limit on federal spending. |
| Police also released a photo fit of a man wanted for questioning over a suspicious fire that started on Thursday in the Melbourne suburb of Ivanhoe. The fire was later brought under control. | |
| Meanwhile, two men questioned earlier on Thursday in connection with allegations of looting in a fire-hit area were released without charge, according to local media reports quoting police. | Meanwhile, two men questioned earlier on Thursday in connection with allegations of looting in a fire-hit area were released without charge, according to local media reports quoting police. |
| Difficult identification | Difficult identification |
| Despite cooler weather on Thursday, firefighters were continuing to battle several blazes. | Despite cooler weather on Thursday, firefighters were continuing to battle several blazes. |
| Marysville's journey to hell | Marysville's journey to hell |
| With bodies still being retrieved from some charred towns, police have barred some residents from returning to their homes, saying the scenes would be too gruesome to bear. | With bodies still being retrieved from some charred towns, police have barred some residents from returning to their homes, saying the scenes would be too gruesome to bear. |
| Marysville - a town that was virtually wiped out - remains cordoned off. | Marysville - a town that was virtually wiped out - remains cordoned off. |
| Investigators were still scouring the town where 80% of buildings were destroyed, and they had not been able to identify and remove all bodies, State Premier John Brumby said. | Investigators were still scouring the town where 80% of buildings were destroyed, and they had not been able to identify and remove all bodies, State Premier John Brumby said. |
| Up to 100 of the town's 500 residents are thought to have been killed, and Mr Brumby said he thought the final death toll would top 200. | Up to 100 of the town's 500 residents are thought to have been killed, and Mr Brumby said he thought the final death toll would top 200. |
| The fires razed 450,000 hectares (1.1 million acres) of land. | The fires razed 450,000 hectares (1.1 million acres) of land. |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |
| />Have you ever visited Marysville or Kinglake? Do you have pictures of your visits? | |
| 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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