Comments | so_spiffed: 50 confirmed dead in Victorian bushfire disaster. Further casualtie expected.

so_spiffed

50 confirmed dead in Victorian bushfire disaster. Further casualtie expected.

Feb 08, 2009 17:03

In what is considered to be Victoria's worst bushfires (and natural disaster) since the Ash Wednesday fires in 1983 (in which 47 people in Victoria died), 50 people are confirmed dead. It could be days until the final deathtoll is realised, including local residents, firefighters, and those who suffered burns from the fires. At least 80 people are ( Read more... )

news 09

Comments 10

boz4pm February 8 2009, 11:48:00 UTC

That's horrific. The idea that this fire or others are at times started deliberately just beggars belief.

so_spiffed February 8 2009, 22:38:08 UTC

Apparently about 13% of all fires here are deliberately lit, while 37% have "suspicious origins" (that is, for all of the vegetation fires for which there is a recorded cause, 50 percent may be lit deliberately). Just... Why? *sighs*

boz4pm February 9 2009, 16:04:54 UTC

I'm watching the news in shocked disbelief, as is most of Australia I imagine.

Gah.

I hope anyone you know in the area is safe and well.

chazriel February 8 2009, 13:13:23 UTC

That is bad, I hope you and yours are alright at least

so_spiffed February 8 2009, 22:43:25 UTC

Oh, yes! We live in a different state (myself and my parents in NSW, and my sister in WA). I'm so glad my sister moved out of Victoria. Still, there are bushfires around the outskirts of Sydney (way, way out; not the city itself, or anything like that). Sometimes in the evening, we can smell the smoke from across the bay.

chazriel February 9 2009, 17:02:29 UTC

and one stiff breeze....
Hopefully they get this under control and catch those bastards.

boo February 9 2009, 02:54:53 UTC

wow.
I hope you and your friends + family are alright ♥

so_spiffed February 9 2009, 11:06:33 UTC

It's just horrifying. Especially considering that so many of the fires were lit by arsonists.

We all live in different states (or, not Victoria), so we're all OK so far. The NSW fires aren't very close to us, though we can sometimes smell the smoke on the wind.

dorukai February 9 2009, 12:24:12 UTC

Dad lives on a hill near Castlemaine, surrounded by trees. Apparently last week it was 46C with galeforce winds, and a fire sprang up a few km northwind of him. Somehow it didn't really get going, or he'd have only had minutes to get out before the fire reached his house.

Chilling :(

And over here, we had about 3 feet of snow over the weekend.

so_spiffed February 9 2009, 22:09:09 UTC

It's just horrifying. Completely, and utterly, horrifying. :( I hope your father stays safe.