209 dead in bushfires in Victoria, Australia (update: death toll increase)

[*tata*]

I was in holidaying NSW when this tragedy happened. My partner and his family and I followed it very closely every morning and every night. All i could think about on Sunday morning was....as i was happily enjoying my Saturday night on holidays and sleeping peacefully...my beloved state of Victoria and many of it's residents faced an absolute terror....no one predicted it would get as bad as it did
It broke my heart when i had switched on the news on Sunday morning...tears have swelled in my eyes many times during this week...i just cannot imagine in my wildest dreams what horrors these people have seen with their own eyes and the hurt they must be going through

It has broken my heart a million times over to see so how many people had lost everything they owned within a matter of minutes and even worse..lost family and loved ones. My heart desperatley goes out to all affected by this unspeakable tragedy. I have known a few people who have lost homes and loved ones and it's just so sad. And not to mention the amount of animals that have died because of this too..it really is tragic and disturbing to think think that someone had purposely lit a few of these fires!

Seeing the whole country put in what they can and really rally together as one has just been amazing. And not to mention the monies that have been raised from overseas is also amazing. I was watching the Telethon Appeal on Thursday night and there were so many stories of children breaking their piggy banks to donate the pennies they had saved..one girl who was about 5 or 6 years old had saved something like $5.75..and she wanted to donate that to help those in need..i thought that was really sweet
Even those families from flood ravaged Queensland have donated money to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal which i though was so touching.....even though they too are going thorough their own tragedies, they still find it in their hearts to give what they can...even when they themselves are struggling with their own losses......

I have never been prouder to be an Australian than I am now....

 

[McClaire]

oh, Bianca that was really hard to look at but thank you. It's such a tragedy.

 

[*Bianca*]

The deathtoll I think is now 189.

 

[Belowen]

I saw on the news this morning that Pink donated $250,000 to the bushfire appeal

 

[*tata*]

yep.....that is so generous!!!

She's such a cool chick

 

[*Bianca*]

Victoria fires death toll climbs to 200

By Melissa Iaria, Greg Roberts and Xavier La Canna
AAP
February 17, 2009 07:33pm


THE death toll from the Victoria fires now stands at 200, with 11 new deaths confirmed by police from the savage Kinglake Complex bushfires.

The hardest hit community from the devastating fires, which began amid high wind and extreme heat on February 7, is Strathewen, on Melbourne's northeastern fringe, where 42 people out of about 200 residents are confirmed dead.

The number of dead confirmed at Kinglake is now 37, four more than yesterday, while 21 deaths have now been recorded at nearby St Andrews.

At Steels Creek, 10 people have now been confirmed dead, with the toll rising to two at Strath Creek.

The Kinglake Complex, covering a vast section of Victoria's central highlands, now accounts for 139 of the 200 deaths.

The toll at Marysville, which stands at 39, is expected to rise sharply as the search for the remains of missing people continues.


Meanwhile, anger at accused bushfire arsonist Brendan Sokaluk has led to threats against a member of his family and harassment of a former girlfriend.

Mr Sokaluk, 39, is charged with lighting the Churchill fire, which killed at least 10 people, and is in custody at a secret location amid fears vigilantes will harm him.

He has been charged with one count each of arson causing death, intentionally lighting a bushfire and possessing child p*rn*gr*phy.

Victoria's Supreme Court today heard there had been threats to at least one member of Mr Sokaluk's family.

At a hearing to decide whether a suppression order banning publication of Mr Sokaluk's image should be lifted, the accused arsonist's lawyer Julian McMahon revealed news of the threats.

"There have been ... threats made to one other family member at least that I'm aware of," Mr McMahon said.

"Not only is there the understandable community anger which suddenly has a focus point, there's also vicious hatred appearing in another kind of medium.

"Facebook groups were ... showing my client's photo and calling for his torture and death."

Most of the Facebook pages relating to Mr Sokaluk have since been removed and the accused arsonist's MySpace page has been taken down.

The comments came the same day the mother of Mr Sokaluk's former girlfriend publicly called for understanding at their situation.

The woman, who did not wish to be named, is the mother of Alexandra, who was in a three-month relationship with Mr Sokaluk last year.

"Our family has already experienced harassment and community ill-feeling as a result of the media linking our family with the accused," she said.

She said her daughter had a stable job that she enjoyed and was a valuable member of the local community.

"We fear this could be jeopardised by the current publicity," she said in a statement distributed by police.

Mr McMahon said there was a "very ugly aspect" to the media reporting in the case, and identity could also be an issue at any trial of Mr Sokaluk.

The court case to decide whether Mr Sokaluk's image can be shown will return to court on Friday.

Meanwhile Victoria Police want to ban messages being posted on internet blogs about Mr Sokaluk.

"It could (jeopardise the case) - Victoria police are taking some action to take a look at that," Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe said.

"We'll talk with the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) and we'll also make some inquiries with the blogging side of it, whether we can have it removed.

"We don't want anything to take place, we don't want anything to be done, that might jeopardise a fair trial down the track."

Victorian Premier John Brumby called on the public to let justice takes its course.

"I know how angry we all feel about what's occurred, but I can't comment on specific cases and the community as a whole must let justice take its course and that's a matter now for the courts."

Mr Sokaluk has been remanded in custody to appear at a committal mention on May 26.

He has not entered a plea nor applied for bail.

news.com.au

 

[Echoes]

What does the family and girlfriend have to do with anything?

 

[Deleted member 36123]

Here is the story about Pink's donation

http://music.ninemsn.com.au/blog.aspx?blogentryid=320109&showcomments=true

 

[Excess]

I'm in Melbourne and watching this happen around me has been horrific i feel so sorry for those who have lost everything and i guess this sort of tragedy puts the recession into perspective, we might be losing money but these people have lost their worldly possessions and their family members human and furry.

 

[smartarse]

i can't believe the death toll continue to rise.
truly heartbreaking.
i share the same sentiments with Pink. Australia is one of the countries i love and look forward for a return visit.

 

[frenchpearls]

Just found out about Pink's donation. Its very kind of her, and shows just how wonderful some people in the world are.

The outpouring of monetary support from all over the world, as well as within Australia is, I think, a sign of how much humankind can give in times of crisis and I only hope it doesn't stop now and kindness continues to spread to other causes.