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| Deadly Australian bushfires flare | Deadly Australian bushfires flare |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| More Australian residents have been forced to flee their homes as renewed bushfires destroyed at least one house and injured three firefighters. | |
| Strong winds and searing temperatures are said to be driving flames towards towns to the east and north-west of Victoria's state capital, Melbourne. | Strong winds and searing temperatures are said to be driving flames towards towns to the east and north-west of Victoria's state capital, Melbourne. |
| The new threat came as the death toll from the fires which ravaged the state two weeks ago increased to 210. | |
| Queen Elizabeth II's daughter Princess Anne has toured the disaster zone. | |
| The princess met firefighters and other emergency workers in the town of Wandong, a day after attending ceremonies marking a national day of mourning for the victims. | |
| She also visited the bushfires' Incident Emergency Control Centre in Melbourne. | |
| Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Victoria Premier John Brumby announced that the clean-up costs of people in fire-hit regions - A$25,000 ($16,000; £11,000) each - would be taken care of. | |
| "The clean-up task is absolutely crucial to getting on with the task of rebuilding," said Mr Brumby. | |
| Precaution | |
| The official death toll rose by one on Monday after a resident of Strathewen - one of the worst-hit areas where 43 perished - died in hospital. | The official death toll rose by one on Monday after a resident of Strathewen - one of the worst-hit areas where 43 perished - died in hospital. |
| Australia has drawn on strengths it already knew it had in abundance - traits that are by no means uniquely Australian, but quintessentially Australian Nick Bryant class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/nickbryant/2009/02/the_australian_character.html">Read Nick's thoughts in full class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7904129.stm">In quotes: Memorial service class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7904115.stm">Princess Anne in bushfire tribute Two firefighters have been injured with minor burns and another more seriously, and a house and two fire trucks were destroyed in fires in Victoria on Monday. | |
| Temperatures have soared above 80F (30C) again with strong winds causing at least two fires to flare up, threatening to spread embers into new areas. | |
| Reports say a property was destroyed in the Dandenong Ranges, east of Melbourne. | |
| Country Fire Authority officials said Upwey, Tecoma and Belgrave on the eastern edge of Melbourne and Enoch Point, about 50 miles (80km) northeast, could be at risk. | |
| More than 100 people in Enoch Point have been evacuated from their homes. "It's a precaution in terms of getting people out early," said local official Simon O'Callaghan. | |
| Meanwhile, Australia's biggest-ever arson investigation is continuing into the causes of the fires, some of which have been burning for weeks. | |
| One man has already been charged with starting one of the blazes and police suspect arson in at least one other case. | One man has already been charged with starting one of the blazes and police suspect arson in at least one other case. |
| 'United in grief' | 'United in grief' |
| Church bells rang out across Victoria on Sunday to mark the start of the national day of mourning. | Church bells rang out across Victoria on Sunday to mark the start of the national day of mourning. |
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| Prime minister leads ceremonies in Melbourne | Prime minister leads ceremonies in Melbourne |
| At the main ceremony, a mourning service at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena, Australian dignitaries, fire survivors and rescue workers were joined by Princess Anne. | At the main ceremony, a mourning service at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena, Australian dignitaries, fire survivors and rescue workers were joined by Princess Anne. |
| The prime minister said flags would be flown at half mast and a minute's silence would be held each 7 February to remember those who had died in the fires. | |
| Many of the 50,000 in the arena wore the distinctive yellow overalls of Australia's firefighters and were bussed in from bushfire-stricken areas, having lost cars and homes to the flames. | Many of the 50,000 in the arena wore the distinctive yellow overalls of Australia's firefighters and were bussed in from bushfire-stricken areas, having lost cars and homes to the flames. |
| People gathered there were handed tiny silver bells to remember the dead and yellow ribbons as a symbol of their resolve to rebuild destroyed communities. | People gathered there were handed tiny silver bells to remember the dead and yellow ribbons as a symbol of their resolve to rebuild destroyed communities. |
| The ceremony was broadcast across the country and thousands gathered elsewhere to watch. | The ceremony was broadcast across the country and thousands gathered elsewhere to watch. |