Just saw on news.com.au that 93 people are now confirmed dead in the bushfires in victoria. The fire front is reported to be 100km wide. Yesterday at work, we heard in the morning that 40 people were dead. I struggle to comprehend how that many people can die in a bushfire. Then as night shift came in, we heard it was 65, this morning i read 93, and its expected to be more. There are other reports that whole towns were wiped out. Again, i find it hard to comprehend a bushfire so big.
I hope all the guys down in victoria are ok, and also their family and friends.
I had family and friends in some affected areas, but all have been lucky with lives and property so far. Just one friend left who hasn’t answered his phone yet. But I’m sure he will be OK as I knew he was being “officially” evacuated. Their will be many, many sad stories to come out of all of this. Hope all other Vicco Swaylockers and their friends and families are OK.
The full extent of the destruction is just emerging, Monday morning as the fires slacken off. There are entire historic townships in the east and north of the state just wiped out. One, Marysville, has a solitary hotel miraculously still standing. The pictures in the paper are almost surreal, a bit like Hiroshima.The stories of ordinary people with not even time to turn a hose onto their homes are full-on. Firebreaks easily leapt over by walls of flame, families toasted in cars while trying to drive away. Its very bad.
The weather on Saturday down here on the coast, hundreds of K’s from the fires, was a sure bet for burning. I saw “Ash Wednesday” in 1983, and the call was that the conditions were worse. 46deg heat and howling winds. The coastal areas which copped it in '83 have been spared, this time, but there will be repercussions for everyone, from a relative lost, to the general economic confidence in the state.
The judicial system has a provision for arsonists to be charged with homicide, and the word is that it is firebugs causing many of these fires:- thats the most disgusting bit…some diabolical misfit is out there getting his rocks off over this.
My parents have lost their house and everything in it. Their place was in Christmas hills, in the yarra valley. The death toll is up to 111, but I’m guessing it’ll be up around the 200 mark pretty soon. There’s three whole towns that have been levelled and haven’t been reached yet.
We’re all just dumbstruck here. It hasn’t really sunk in yet!
Man, feeling for you guys over there. Stayed in a place at the foot of the Dandenongs back in the mid 90’s and have many friends who still live in the area. Heard via email that the temps have been sweltering and the fires are out-of-control.