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| Australia fire deaths rise to 200 | Australia fire deaths rise to 200 |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The number of people who died in Australia's bushfires has reached 200 and will rise further, police say. | The number of people who died in Australia's bushfires has reached 200 and will rise further, police say. |
| The announcement came after fire investigators discovered 11 more bodies in and around the town of Kinglake, in south-east Victoria state. | |
| More than 1,800 homes were destroyed and 7,500 people displaced by the hundreds of fires that swept the state. | More than 1,800 homes were destroyed and 7,500 people displaced by the hundreds of fires that swept the state. |
| Police suspect at least two of the fires were set deliberately, and have charged one man with arson. | Police suspect at least two of the fires were set deliberately, and have charged one man with arson. |
| On Monday a Melbourne court named the suspect as Brendan Sokaluk - despite fears for his safety prompted by public fury over the blaze. | On Monday a Melbourne court named the suspect as Brendan Sokaluk - despite fears for his safety prompted by public fury over the blaze. |
| Prosecutors allege that the 39-year-old deliberately set a fire in Churchill, Victoria, in which 11 people died. | Prosecutors allege that the 39-year-old deliberately set a fire in Churchill, Victoria, in which 11 people died. |
| He is facing charges of arson causing death and of intentionally starting a bushfire. He faces a maximum 25-year sentence for the first charge, and 15 years for the second. | He is facing charges of arson causing death and of intentionally starting a bushfire. He faces a maximum 25-year sentence for the first charge, and 15 years for the second. |
| The updated death toll came as Disaster Victim Identification teams examined some of the areas worst-hit by fires for the first time. | |
| Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe said some of the victims would probably never be identified. | |
| "It is a very difficult process in some cases to actually be able to determine whether the remains are human remains or not," he was quoted by ABC as saying. | |
| "As to what the number's going to get to I think we should await and let it unfold over the next week or 10 days." | |
| Sunday has been announced as a national day of mourning for all victims of the bushfires. |