History of fatal bushfires in Australia
CANBERRA, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the Victorian bushfires in south Australia has reached 108 by Monday morning and authorities said the number of fire victims was likely to rise even further.
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The remains of a properties destroyed by bushfires are seen in the town of Kinglake, 55km (34 miles) northeast of Melbourne Feb. 8, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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At least 750 homes have been destroyed and more than
330,000 hectare burnt out, while authorities said some fires could take weeks to
contain.
Country Fire Authority (CFA) state duty officer Mark
Glover said the toll could still climb further.
"It's now at 108 and still likely to climb
unfortunately," Glover told ABC Television.
The death toll surpasses that from the 1983 Ash
Wednesday bushfires, in which 75 people died in Victoria and South Australia,
and the Black Friday bushfires of 1939, which killed 71.
At least 76 people killed in bushfires in Australia
CANBERRA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- At least 76 people have been killed so far over the past two days in what has officially become Australia's deadliest bushfires disaster, police said on Sunday. Full story
Australian PM asks nation to prepare for worst from bushfires
CANBERRA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told the nation Sunday night to prepare itself for worse news as the inferno ravaging Victoria became Australia's most deadly on record.
"We've come through bad times before and we'll come through this one," he told ABC TV. Full story
Thousands seek help at bushfire relief centers in Australia
CANBERRA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of people fleeing Victoria's bushfires have sought help at various relief centers in the state in Australia since Saturday morning.
With more than 60 people confirmed dead so far by police and large parts of Victoria still under threat, early-response charities, including the Australian Red Cross and the Salvation Army, have been busy with helping those who need urgent help. Full story
