14+ dead in Victoria bushfires

talaxandra · Feb 7, 2009

The latest reports have 25 confirmed and possibly dozens more dead - Herald-Sun

A colleague told me about an horrific call to 3AW from a woman who fled her house. When she and her husband returned two hours later theirs was the only one still standing. Many people had sought refuge in their home, which was fine, but there had been a car accident at the front of the property, with fatalities, and bodies floating in the pool or dam.

I'm thinking of all my friends and family in the bush, and the brilliant CFA.

frellyou · Feb 8, 2009

Are you in Victoria Talaxandra? Saw the news stories, it looks so horrible :crying2: . For some reason for me fire always seems more devastating than other natural disasters, not sure why.

Thinking of you from Sydney:icon_hug:

asgirl · Feb 8, 2009

66 people confirmed dead now. Some towns are 95% destroyed. In complete contrast half of queensland is in flood -such weather extremes.

Grace Oz · Feb 8, 2009

Latest news reports 84 dead. My heart breaks for this tragedy.

I know our magnificent country is a land of contrasts and extreme weather, but this .......

Just unbelievable!

We had fires here in SA yesterday and thankfully those were extinguished.

Today the temps dropped after the horrendous heatwave we've endured.

We're all exhausted from the heat.

We had 40 heat related deaths.

Parts of N.S.W. are also ablaze and there has been loss of life there too.

..... And then there's the incredible flooding in Queensland! My nephew, his wife and family is in Townsville which is isolated by the floods. Thankfully, they're ok.

As Australian's we always come together to help each other during times of adversity. We need to pull together more than ever now and help our fellow Aussie's who have lost so much and are suffering inimaginably due to these horrendous events.

My heart and prayers go out to all those affected by these dreadful events.

talaxandra · Feb 8, 2009

Hi frellyou - yeah, I'm a Victorian. I live in Melbourne but have family in the country who are fortunately all safe. And I agree - there's something particularly devastating and frightening about fires, and bush fires in particular. I think that, unless you've seen one it's almost impossible to appeciate how overwhelming and fast they are - some are burning at 80K/hr and the flames are up to 10m high.

The Alfred's been closed to everything but burns since yesterday, and other major metropolitan hospitals have 78 (at the last count) overflow burns patients.

I just saw on the news that Brian Naylor and his wife died in the Kinglake fire - he's been retired for 11 years but was still the epitome of a newsreader for me and, I suspect, a lot of other Victorians. In 1983 he reported from the remains of his Kinglake house, which had been destroyed by the Ash Wednesday fires.

Anyone who wants to contribute can donate to the Red Cross 2009 Victorian bushfire appeal.

And at the same time, as Grace and asgirl pointed out, we've got mass flooding in Queensland (where I also have family who are, fortunately, safe) and fires in SA and NSW. What a horror week.

allnurses Guide · Feb 9, 2009

God, up to 108 dead to this point! Far worse than even Ash Wednesday.

I just can't even imagine being stuck in that position of leaving and watching everything you have get incinerated, or the even worse alternative.

God bless the firefighters - who on earth would want to run into that?

Grace Oz · Feb 9, 2009

Mass murder!

That's what our Prime Minister has called it.

Devastating , just devastating.

Grace Oz · Feb 9, 2009

If ever anyone deserves the title of Australian of the Year ... it's our firefighters!

And ... so many of those are volunteers!

talaxandra · Feb 9, 2009

I have friends in the CFA and thank god they have peer support programs - some of the stories I have heard so far are horrific. and its only going to get worse - estimates of 200+ dead by the end.. Mass murder is a pretty good call.

ceridwyn · Feb 9, 2009

I work in the community, in which the fires are, worked on saturday in the smoke, wind and heat, it is horrendous, 4 of our nurses live in the acute fire areas, two came close to their houses lost, one has lost her house.

Many of our outlying patients have lost their houses, or have children or parents that have lost their houses...or have lost someone.... it has been heartbreaking for all staff taking telephone calls, cancelling visits and listening to their stories...had to have a little laugh with one....as she giggled when she realised she would have to go and buy some undies as she had none to change.....

but the devastation continues our way.....wish it would rain..

Grace Oz · Feb 9, 2009

You take care Ceridwyn.

I'm sorry for your colleague who lost her home.

Some of our firefighter's are on their way across to help.

The destruction is unbelievable.

Stay safe mate! Keep in touch so we know you're ok.