Looks like Australia's getting it tough....my condolences to everyone affected by these events. I think though its also sobering as to the fierce power of nature. Fires are a part of the natural cycle, its just too bad people had to be in the way when it happened...I have witnessed some forest fires out in British Columbia but they never usually hit very populated areas. Any word on whether its died down or not?
It's still burning. It was up to 108 people this morning, but that was 9 hours ago so I'm sure it'll be more by now... It's scary to see how we still have no power against nature.
Ten did a piece on it last night, "FIRE HORROR" and the death toll just kept escalating with each update ... We had bushfires this bad earlier this decade in NSW, I think. Was not fun to see on television.
Brought you by Google. http://mapvisage.appspot.com/fires/FireMap.html http://google-au.blogspot.com/2009/02/mapping-victorian-fires.html
I'm pretty upset by this, I have friends who are close to that area who made it out. I hate how people feel hopeless against natural disasters because we cannot win against the force of nature My condolences to the victims and their families Edit: I took off my signature since it was an inappropriate image at times like these
No, I don't think there were any deaths that time. But, yeah, I just remember 'cause it was all over the news for some time. The count is about 170-something at this point, according to the last update.
181 now, apparently. They're sending over police and fire officers from my state to help too. RIP those who have died.
Two days ago the toll was 70+, yesterday it was 130+ and today it's 180+. It'll definitely hit 200 when I wake up tomorrow. So many awful individual stories, though I hadn't heard about the business man's, holy hell... It's so hard to imagine that people couldn't even outrun the fires. I heard people thought they had a couple hours to evacuate, but the fire reached them in minutes, I can't imagine the terror! Also the gaol terms for arsonists are too low, these guys are just extra cowardly murderers, it'd be nice if they were thrown in a fire... So now where's the obligatory heroic tale to make it all better? :/
Damn the death toll keeps rising. That's frightening. My thoughts go out to all those who lost their lives and their families.
Wow that's dreadful... I was reading about this yesterday in the news. My thoughts go out to all affected, and may those who died rest in peace.
From what I read, there was only one confirmed case of arson related to the fires, but it couldn't be determined how much that affected the overall fires. There was a report that at least part of the fire was caused by carelessly-tossed cigarette butts (surely not intentional in any way) and lightning strikes.
Then in one news report, in the background, a woman was finishing her cig, and threw it on the ground. Hah. And of course, some pastor has said that the devil visited Victoria because they decriminalised abortion. "I must tell people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear" What a fuckface. Am I allowed to call him a fuckface? Also heard that Fox News told people to beware of fire jihads, is that right? lol
That "Fire Jihad" stuff is complete and UTTER propaganda! The fact that it is so widespread on the news makes me sick! And they have NOTHING to back it up other than these random and anonymous "reports". And so obviously some people just take that and believe it. There were comments on some news sites from of people saying "All Muslims should be deported from Australia". WTF?