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Sixty-five people are confirmed dead in the Victorian bushfires, making the human toll for the state far worse than Ash Wednesday.

There have also been 640 homes destroyed - including more than 500 in the Kinglake area - but the true extent of the damage will not be clear until authorities are able to enter fire-ravaged towns.

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abc.net.au

Sorry, should make more of a comment than a sad face but really it is hard to know what to say.

Often in disasters you hear the death tolls but you have to stop and think about the people that have been injured who, especially in the case of fires, will be living with the injuries for the rest of their lives. There are people in hospital today with huge amounts of burns and some that are not expected to live. Just heard on the ABC radio that there are 22 people with major burns in a hospital in Melbourne where they usually get one a week.

Jsut can't imagine the ferocity of these fires - people staying behind thinking they'd be able to save their houses but then having to try and save their lives. So sad.

Every new news report brings more tales of destruction.
Not everyone chose to stay and save their houses.
Sometimes the fires spread so ferociously and fast they had no time to evacuate.

My heart goes out to everyone in the fire areas.

I had not heard about the deaths. I am so sorry and my heart goes out to all those who have suffered losses.

This morning I saw a news story that said the fires could be seen from space.

My wrath goes out against the sad bastards that light these fires. Most of the Victorian and quite a few of the fires in NSW have been deliberately lit. Hopefully they get charged with multiple murders.

There is talk that there are many more people missing, suspected killed, and the toll could be over 100 deaths.

Death toll up to 84 now. and god knows when they'll be able to get into many of the isolated parts.

All this happening in Victoria and then in Queensland there's 60% of the state covered in water from flooding. Crazy country.

Hi all,

I'm from Victoria and it's just devastating what has happened here. The fires are still burning in some areas and some townships have been completely wiped out.

We are in a built up area and are safe but there were a couple of fires within 5km distance from our house yesterday which thankfully, have been contained.

Temperatures reached 46 degrees celcius and the winds were so strong it's no wonder the fires were uncontrollable. The state has been in a drought (as has most of Australia) for over ten years and our dam storages here are currently at only 32 percent, which doesn't help matters especially during Summer.

I've also just heard the sad news that Brian Naylor (who was a newsreader on channel nine here for over twenty years) has died, along with his wife, in the fires in Kinglake. Very sad to hear, he was a much loved newsreader in his day.

I was saddened to read about the fires that are raging out of control. I see a suspect has been arrested in NSW. I can't begin to understand the mindset of a person who would do this.

I have been following this on the news here, just saw reporting from Marysville, and it is devastating, no other word for it. Knowing some were the result of arson, I feel the guilty parties ought to be burned at the stake themselves, but I realize that is not rational thinking. All of you who live there, please stay safe and I pray that nothing gets close to any of you.

Copago, the photos and comments you have made recently in the Photo-a-day re the extreme heat? Knowing how dangerous the same conditions are here in places like California, the thought of fires has crossed my mind more than once.

One of my friends on another site is a great horse rider. The riding stables she attends have suffered great loss - I think both animals and people - and a horse she knew well was killed. I just can't believe the mentality of people starting a fire, and hope they are severely punished

I hope all the Funtrivia people are ok - these fires are devastating.

According to the TV news just now, the death toll is officially at 108 and these fires have been declared Australia's worst ever.

My step-father's daughter (from his first marriage) lives in that area - she has a "horse farm". We are hoping she and the horses are okay.

Communications throughout the fire areas are in disarray due to destruction of landlines and mobile base stations. Radio 3AW has suspended normal programs and is broadcasting updates and community messages.
It is chilling to hear callers begging for any news of loved ones they cannot contact. If their names have not by now appeared on a Red Cross evacuation list, it's very likely they have not survived.
The confirmed deaths stand at 108 and will certainly rise.

Can't imagine how utterly devastated the people in the fire areas feel. I was really sickened by a news report that "sightseers" are now travelling through the area to gawp at the devastation. As if the victims need stangers intruding on their grief. Would be different if they actually offered some help. Sometimes I despair of the human race but luckily stories of true brotherhood and courage have also emerged. Hang in there Victoria, NSW and those experiencing flooding in Queensland. My heart goes out to you all. My office is having an appeal fundraiser later this week so hope to get some practical assistance over to you soon.

Sight-seers are not a great problem currently in Victoria, since the worst-hit areas have been declared crime scenes until the authorities have finished searching burned buildings and vehicles for human remains. No unauthorised people are getting in or out.
As for arsonists, yes they might have played a large part, but fire has always been a natural partner in Australia's ecology. Given the once-in-a-lifetime combination of factors last Saturday, multiple outbreaks were inevitable, even without human involvement.
I believe that anyone found guilty of this type of arson should be regarded as, and punished as, a convicted terrorist.

I`ve probably watched over 15 hours worth of news regarding the Victorian fires over the last couple of days and I`m still being stunned at the extent of the damage. Australia's worst "natural" disaster just keeps getting worse with every news update.

Over 130 people confirmed killed and that figure is expected to rise and perhaps double,over 750 houses destroyed and over 3500 people homeless, thousands of hectares of farming and bushland burnt out.

Listening to the personal accounts of the people that made lucky escapes really hits home for me and hearing the reports about whole families found dead huddled together in houses and cars is heart breaking.

My thoughts are with you Victorians and my hope is that Australia never has such widespread loss of life and property again.

I don't know what to say. Despite being in a drought and despite a record heatwave this came as a huge shock to me. My heart aches for those who have lost. We're drowning in grief courtesy of the media. Front bar regulars, grizzled miners, cynical and gruff, walk out on the news reports now, or ask for the channel to be changed.
I have to friends in the fire services, one is over there helping out,the other based here tells me they expect the final toll to be close to 300. Large areas have apparently yet to be checked.300! This doesn't happen in Australia! Hopefully he's wrong.

It's an appalling subject to even discuss, and impossible to imagine the pain and heartache of those directly affected.
Some of the victims, including whole families, died inside their cars, trying to outrun the fires. Their terror must have been unimaginable.

I just watched another news report over here and we're just stunned. Such an awful thing to happen and my prayers for everyone there.

As mentioned in a previous post, my step-sister lives in the fire zone. We just got the news that she is okay but we don't know any details and we don't know what's happened to the horses.

My heart goes out to each and everyone one of you out there. I cannot believe there are so many sick people who have no respect for peoples lives, causing this devastating damage to entire families & towns, and to their own country. They should be tried as mass murderers because that is what they are. My prayers are with all of you.

MG, so glad to hear your step-sister is all right.
Is there any type of forced evacuation plan for situations like this? I go back to my comment on California and wildfires being all too common on our west coast. I know evacuations have saved countless lives there.

I'm also glad to hear your step sister is ok Mothergoose, hopefully the horses will be ok too.

There are fears that the death toll may reach 300 now as the police are only just getting into some areas that were inaccessible before. There are also concerns that two fires will join into one and become an unmanageable fire front.

I've just read that Melbourne's water and gas supplies could be threatened because of two different fires. They are using all their resources to try and protect this from happening.

Let's just hope and pray that neither of these things will happen, enough devastation has come already.

So horrible, what an awful situation. Prayers for all Aussies, especially those directly affected. Regarding the arsonists: living in S. California, we are often subject to dry conditions and strong winds, which draw the firebugs out like crazy. We certainly have our share of wildfires as a result. Here's an interesting item to debate - it's been suggested that the weather forecasters NOT mention coming high winds and high fire danger, the thought being that when arsonists KNOW the perfect conditions are coming, they plan accordingly. What are your (meaning you FTers) thoughts, on the pros and cons of not "advertising" perfect wild fire conditions?