Today saw Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, announce a national day of mourning after the deadliest bushfires in the nation’s history.
Police have also confirmed that a “serial arsonist” was being investigated over one of the fires, which claimed the lives of 21 people.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has declared a national day of mourning for the victims of the bushfires
While the death toll still official remains at 181, warnings have been issued, telling the public to prepare for a rise in the number of dead.
Christine Nixon, Victoria’s police commissioner, cautioned “I’m not prepared to say 300 [victims] but the people from the coroner’s office have prepared for that many,” she said.
Simon Overland, Victoria’s deputy police commissioner, said police were close to releasing a photo of the suspect in relation to the Gippsland fire.
“There has been a serial arsonist in this area for some period of time and we have been working on that,” he said.
“It’s too early to say whether it was that person that was responsible for the fire that happened on Saturday, but that’s obviously something we will follow through.”
Earlier today, two men were arrested but cleared of any wrongdoing.
John Brumby, the premier of Victoria, said today there were indications a fire at Mansfield had been deliberately lit.
“There would seem to be no doubt at all that that fire’s been deliberately lit. It’s devastating,” he told the Herald Sun. “Again, what do you say about this except that we have a huge police team which is out there trying to track down any of these people responsible.”
As Australia’s largest arson investigation continues, Rudd told federal parliament there would be a national service to remember the victims of the tragedy.
Rudd and other parliament members wore yellow ribbons, a symbol of strength and comfort, when they entered the House of Representatives earlier today.
Nine Network tonight held a national telethon to help raise money for bushfire victims, with Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe supporting the cause. Nine expects to help raise millions of dollars, with funds to go to the Red Cross Bush Fire Appeal, which has already raised about $50 million through donations from individuals and companies.
A photo of smoke and fire over Warrandyte, taken by a local resident
About 4,000 firefighters are still trying to contain 31 bushfires in Victoria as extreme weather conditions are predicted to hit next week. Winds are also forecast for the weekend which may pose a threat to property.
Authorities have also warned that two bushfires burning in Victoria’s north and east are at risk of merging, which would create a 500,000-hectare inferno.
More than 400,000 hectares have so far been razed in fires, with at least 1,033 properties destroyed.
An expert in fire ecology said the heat expelled in the deadly fires “equalled about 500 atomic bombs landing on Hiroshima”.
Yesterday, disaster victim identification officers arrived in Marysville, which was described as looking “like a bomb” had hit it. Just five buildings remain standing. It could be weeks before residents are allowed to return to what’s left of their hometown.
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