36 people are already confirmed dead and the number is expected to rise (update: the toll is now 106 and rising)
Two towns have been razed to the ground.
Donations can be made to the Victorian Bushfire Relief Fund via any National Australia Branch or via internet banking. BSB: 082-001. Account number: 860 046 797.
(Nothing Follows)
Marysville north of Melbourne has been all but wiped off the map and ambulance authorities say there are not enough vehicles to reach all the injured in nearby Kinglake, a town which is also feared to have been destroyed.Please help in any way you can.
It is unclear how many homes have been destroyed in the fires, but tens of thousands of hectares have been razed and the army has been called in to assist exhausted firefighters.
The number of destroyed homes will be in the hundreds.
This morning there were also unconfirmed reports of bodies being found in cars overtaken by the fires in Gippsland in the state's east.
Six of the confirmed dead have been found at Kinglake, six at Kinglake West and four each at St Andrews and Wandong, all north of Melbourne.
Five people are dead in Callignee, three in Hazelwood and one in Jeeralang. More bodies have been found at Humevale, Bendigo, and Arthurs Creek.
Victoria's deputy police commissioner Kieran Walshe says the death toll will rise and it is expected to include children.
Donations can be made to the Victorian Bushfire Relief Fund via any National Australia Branch or via internet banking. BSB: 082-001. Account number: 860 046 797.
(Nothing Follows)
6 comments:
jack ... the top photo looks exactly like where i helped contain a fire near bungendore in january 1988, with knapsack sprayer and hoe. right on the fire front. the last photo is one i cannot relate to. total despair, where's the house? it could be where's the family? ... the feelings of who are left, those who have lost family, friends, their homes, i cannot relate to.
this last weekend is a sad one, one i hope your worldwide readership understands. it is a tragedy. people gone, people in the wrong place at the wrong time. or those trying to save liveihood. i appreciate your post and appeal. aussies do contribute, in money and what people need ... stevo
Jack,
The Feds are itching to spend zillions on reflating the economy.
One might dare to suggest that the weekend's disasters of fire in the south and floods in the north suggest a much better option for our tax dollars and public debt than the Pink Batt surge.
Reconstruction; mitigation and remediation measures; and arguably a higher civil defence capability.
The inevitable coroners inquest and probably public inquiries will tell more in due course, but one dares to suggest at first glance those poor people living in the hills around Melbourne should have enjoyed better co-ordination and guidance in deciding whether to stay or run.
And yes - absolutely tragic .
Jack,
I posted a link to the fires on LGF.
(Bolt's 'blog in fact).
No intention of stealing our thunder as I did not see your link till after mine appeared.
Apologies if you are offended.Not my intention.
(There are several links there to this story. I guess others didn't see it either.)
No issue, Gramfan.
The more links there are the more help we'll hopefully get.
Stevo - In the Canberra bushfires my mate lost his house and everything in it. I moved out of my place and in with my brother and let his family use my house for 9 months. It is certainly a stressful time.
Kevo - I wonder whether the PM will come around to that point of view. If nothing else he's a populist who is always looking to deal with whatever is the current issue. They don't come much bigger than what's just happened so I reckon it's a better than even bet they change the stimulus debacle.
Thanks for that Jack.Much appreciated.
There are still many sites listed at LGF.
I have just heard that if you shop at Coles this Friday they will donate all the profits to the Red Cross.
Whilst I think this is admirable I am a little disillusioned with the Red Cross. Their actions, or lack thereof, after 9/11 and Bali have soured things.
(Not to mention their appalling attitude to the Israeli equivalent: Magen David Adom.)
Thankfully we have many other avenues to pursue to get help to the victims of this tragedy.
Gramfan,
I used to only give to two charities - the Salvos and the Red Cross.
After the ambulance incident I cut the Red Cross off the list, never to be reinstated.
So I give to the Salvos and the odd worthwhile cause such as the bushfire appeal.
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