So far 181 people have died, and the death toll is expected to go well over 200. 400,000 hectares burnt out and more than 1,800 homes lost. It's the worst in Australia's history since settlement in 1788. I can only imagine what the Aborigines had to put up with pre-settlement. Before this the worst was the Ash Wednesday fires in 1983, which claimed 75 lives.
The unfortunate aspect is that arson is suspected in some of the fires.
For the latest on the fires: http://mp3.news.com.au/hwt/Victoria_fire/
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