Bushfire Victims'
- Died Feb 08, 2009
- Australia
About
Number of deaths climbs
The number of people killed by the devastating Black Saturday bush fires that swept south-eastern Australia last week has climbed to 189, but police warned the figure would rise, possibly to beyond 300.
Members of the Victorian police force's Disaster Victim Identification team have spent days searching through the rubble and ash of fire-ravaged towns for anything that can identify those caught in the blazes.
In many cases very little, except small amounts of DNA and pieces of jewellery, remain. Police then have the painstaking task of cross-referencing the DNA with the long lists of missing persons.
On Friday, Brendan Sokaluk, 39, was charged with arson causing death in relation to the deadly Gippsland fire, which devastated 39,000 hectares in the Latrobe valley, east of Melbourne, and remains out of control. The arson charge relates to 11 of the 21 deaths. He was also charged with deliberately lighting a bush fire and possessing child pornography.
Public anger over the worst bush fires in Australia's history remains high. Mr Sokaluk was moved from Morwell, where he was questioned by police, to a cell in Melbourne for his own safety. As the van carrying him pulled out of the town, enraged locals pounded on the doors and yelled abuse.
The Australian government announced a national day of mourning on Sunday to honour the victims of the Victorian bush fires.
The former Governor of Victoria, and Appeal Fund Chairman, John Landy, has thanked the Australian public for their generosity and has given assurances all donations will go to those who need it.
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Your always in our hearts!!
Halie Jul 24, 2009
I just want the loved ones all left behind, and those now somewhere, more devine, to know that, although the days are passing by, the memory of that day will never blind.
Please know that prays are with you all, for those that lost 'love' big or small.
I pray that you find peace of mind, knowing that your loss is remembered for all of time. Peace n Love Hails xoxo
My Memory
Christine Mar 31, 2009
We went to the CFA meetings and joined the local fire-guard group. This was a series of meetings in neighbours houses led by a CFA volunteer who educated us about what to expect from a bushfire and how to prepare our properties.
Because of the weather warnings during the week and the previous exceptionally hot weather that led up to the day, we had filled water barrels and placed them around the house along with mops and buckets, rakes, etc. and had the correct clothing ready.
When the fire hit we went into complete panic for a few minutes then got ourselves under control, turned on the sprinklers and my husband connected the trailer to the car carrying water tanks and began hosing trees that caught on fire close to the house. Meanwhile my son and I were putting out embers that threatened to take hold close to the house. The sprinklers attached to the eaves of the house kept us cool and wet. The fire was all around us, in the trees and catching in a flash of a second everywhere but the house was OK thanks to the sprinklers and my wonderful brave husband and son. These things saved us along with a whole lot of pure luck. Venturing out to seehow everyone else had fared was the scary part, with trees and power lines hanging and falling over the roads and still burning, most of our neighbours houses completely flattened and still exploding. Hugs all round and screams of relief when we found our friends OK. They had run to another neighbours house and fought the fire together there.
We lost sheds and loads of stuff and our precious cat who liked to sleep in the hay in the shed but we are all OK and I guess here to stay.
My Memory
leonie Mar 29, 2009
To my victorian family
JaneWest Mar 24, 2009