Death toll soars as Australia bushfire devastates Victoria
The wildfires have devastated swaths of
southeastern Australia [AFP]
At least 128 people are now known to have been killed in the deadliest wildfires ever to sweep Australia, officials have said.
Police and a Department of Sustainability and Environment spokesman in the state of Victoria gave the latest death toll early on Monday, but there were fears it could rise as emergency crews search more than 700 houses destroyed in the flames.
Many people are believed to have died in their cars as they tried to escape the fires.
Arsonists are being held responsible for starting some of the blazes, which are sweeping across an area of about 3,000 sq km across three states.
"These people are terrorists within our nation, they are the enemy within and we have to be increasingly vigilant about them," Mike Rann, the governor of South Australia state, said on Sunday.
At least 20 per cent of the fires in South Australia state were started by arsonists and another 20 per cent were the result of "stupidity or negligence," Rann said.
Arsonists were also relighting fires that had been brought under control, a fire authority official in Victoria said.
'Hell's fury'
Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
News Asia-Pacific
Sunday, February 08, 2009
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3 comments:
Please pray for us here in Victoria Australia!!!
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It's been a shocking few days here in Vic. Aus.
We had a horrible day yesterday with temps of 46-48 deg. c and winds you would not believe.
This has given birth to bush fires that have basically engulfed our state. Over 121 people have died so far and over 700 homes leveled.
Friends of ours who have 2 beautiful daughters are still missing and unaccounted for.
We are hoping and praying they are in good health, but unfortunately they lived in one of the worst affected areas.
Mother nature at her worst!!!
Please send your prayers to all of those still missing.
Kind Regards
Brett.
Brett Kruger
AKA "Freddy"
I believe fervently in the power of prayer, no matter who we are, when we pray from the heart; God will hear us. For God has no religion to stand in His way. He is free to deal with the heart of every man woman and child. This is very cool, because the door is open for all of us to pray as one, for a miracle to happen in Australia. So let us all now pray, and God's grace will come!
It's very sad...
It's very very sad, I'm always watching IT on the TV and reading it from the newspapers. I felt so bad when i read the newspaper today. I hope it will end as soon as possible.
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