The bushfires here in Victoria have now been classed as Australia's worst ever natural disaster. Twelve fires are still highly dangerous and 26 still burn out of control and the Kinglake fire is running on a 80 kilometre front. 312,000 hectares (3120 square kilometres) are now alight or have been burnt. There are many friends that have lost their homes - My daughters boyfriends' auntie lost their home however they are safe. There are too many others to list however at this stage, no personal friends have lost their lives. Latest is 84 confirmed deaths and over 700 homes lost. Deaths are likely to grow to over 100. Kinglake has lost 550 of those homes. Kinglake, Victoria - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia One of our oldest towns in the Yarra Valley (Marysville) not that far away from Kinglake has been totally destroyed. Marysville, Victoria - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
My brother lives in Sydney and I expect my father has been on the phone to make sure he is OK. Here's hoping they get it under control soon and the loss of life fails to rise. Best wishes to down under Andy
I thought of you when this was on the news - Looks absolutely horrendous mate. Best of luck to you and yours. ~A
Geoff, The situation sounds horrendous and I hope and pray that both you, your family and community are not in the path of the bush fires. Best Regards Tom
I was reading about this in the paper this morning before Church and thought about you. Remembered you and the multitude of families affected by this in prayers. What I had seen had placed the death toll at the hundred mark. Hope you are safe and this can be battled back. phil
The State is in shock, 93 dead and still counting as they sift through the rubble. About 750 homes gone, and 25 fires still burning. Two days ago it was 49C just up the road a few kilometres. John.
Geoff, I hope all is ok. Seen the news and it looks horrible. All our best wishes to those down under.
To put the extent of the fires in context, an area twice the size of "Greater London" or the combined area of Surrey and Hertfordshire has now been burnt. In the New South Wales fires (nothing to do with the Victorian ones) a 31 year old man has been arrested and charged with arson for lighting one of their fires. A young lad has also been arrested there for lighting another fire. What are these people thinking?
The small hamlet town of Yackandandah where my great grandparents emigrated to from Ireland in the mid 1800's has now come under threat. This fire is in North East Victoria and about 250kms away from the Kinglake fire near Melbourne. Unique Yackandandah Website - Yackandandah Official Website
I can't believe that people would be so idiotic to start some of those fires. So bloody stupid. Hope they get the full force of the law.
The Australian Premier is right to call the Arsonists Mass Murderers. I hope those convicted feel the full weight of the Law. My heart goes out to you all Down Under caught up in this disaster. Regards Tom
I'd just like to add my name to the comments already expressed. My sympathies to all those affected. Diane
G'day All, Now over 170 dead and 750 houses destroyed. The authorities are guessing that the death toll could reach over 300 but we pray that is not the case. Our son has a block in Kinglake and had a caravan on it so we could camp up there with our Grandson when we go down to Melbourne. Without some good rains it will be quite a while before that happens again. One of the problems is that you are not allowed to cut down any trees to make a firebreak or the Tree Police will prosecute. Lets hope they learn a lesson from this disaster and apply a bit of common sense where safety and peoples lives are at stake. Cheers Rob
I had the news on today and they were covering some of the personal stories as they start to unfold.....Heartbreaking. I maybe wrong (I didn't catch all of the news) but the authorities suspect some 400 fires were started deliberately? Cheers Andy
Geoff, you wern't the one in his stubbies, on the roof with a mate, an eski, , and a hose wanting to save your house, was it??? Anyway, my cousin has just had her house destroyed, and my brother-in-law's sisters house too, so i wish you well, and that you and your family are safe. Do you know if the NZ firefighters have arrived yet?? My Uncle is going over.:ausflag[1]::nzflag[1]:
I had the news on today and they were covering some of the personal stories as they start to unfold.....Heartbreaking. I maybe wrong (I didn't catch all of the news) but the authorities suspect some 400 fires were started deliberately? Cheers Andy They said today (Police) that only one fire is confirmed as Arson. That was a fire in the south east of Victoria not the Kinglake fire. The problem now is the fire in the north and that one in the south are getting closer to merging which is a real worry. The town of Marysville is estimated that of the 500 residents 100 could have died. There were bodies in the street yesterday and these have to be indentified first before people can return. Surely enough to make a grown man cry.................
