Current figures
death Toll: 181 and expected to rise as far as 300 or more as more areas are searched
homes: over 950 destroyed
link to latest news
This is now the greatest natural disaster in Australian History
Donation efforts
Australian Cricketers donate match fees to relief fund. In addition, Commonwealth bank has donated 1 million and will donate $100 for every run and $1000 for every six hit in todays game. not sure if this is just for the australian batting or if it includes NZ as well
Coles will donate profits from friday feb13 to bushfire appeal
Commonwealth Bank have setup an account for those without credit cards that can directly transfer money into. There are also links there for credit card donations which of course anyone internationally can donate into.
Donation warnings
Unfortunately in times like these some scum will pose as taking donations for a well known outfit. If you're unsure or suspicious, DON'T DONATE to these people, as there are plenty of legitimate ways to send your money. The australian red cross website and above ccommonwealth bank link are two sure places that australian and international people can go to donate.
How did it get this bad
Bushfires are an accepted part of life in Australia, and they happen regularly throughout the year, however this fire has taken everyone by surprise. There have been some calls that residents should have been warned earlier, and that evacuation calls should have been quicker, but if we put the emotion aside, perhaps nothing could have been done..
This is footage of how quick the fire was moving
this is not sped up btw, winds were gusting up to and above 80kmh during the fires
All Australian residents who live in fire risk areas are encouraged to have fire evacuation strategies, and I can attest to them being heavily advertised on TV and everywhere else in the months coming up to the fire season. However the sheer ferocity of this fire caught everyone by surprise. We only have to compare the fires to other tragedies such as the Ash Wednesday Fires of 1983 to see how bad it was. In those fires 75 people died, and as a result of that much better management of fire risk areas and general awareness and preparedness came into being. So whilst the general forest management and undergrowth reduction strategies might be called into question as they should, the response of those trying to fight the fires shouldn't.
-------------------- original post--------------------------
This is being discussed as an addendum to the heatwave in NSW thread but it really deserves more attention. Following a record heatwave last fortnight and yesterdays insane 45degree day, Victoria was covered in fires yesterday and today.
here's a handy google map showing where some fires are and where people have died
Currently the death toll stands at 36 confirmed, however this number is expected to double.... Over 640 homes have also been destroyed.
As is also the case, unfortunately some of the fires are believed to have been deliberately lit. If this is true, I hope those people get charged with murder, which has already been discussed
Yesterday really was disgustingly hot here in Victoria and I cannot imagine the strength that those firefighters will need to get through this period, and I wish them the absolute best. I really hope as well that NSW doesn't go through something this bad as they suffer through a heatwave for the next few days as well
here are some links for those wanting to get up to speed on these events
http://www.theage.com.au/national/death-toll-rises-from-bushfires-20090208-80jv.html
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25023335-1243,00.html
more photos
death Toll: 181 and expected to rise as far as 300 or more as more areas are searched
homes: over 950 destroyed
link to latest news
This is now the greatest natural disaster in Australian History
Donation efforts
Australian Cricketers donate match fees to relief fund. In addition, Commonwealth bank has donated 1 million and will donate $100 for every run and $1000 for every six hit in todays game. not sure if this is just for the australian batting or if it includes NZ as well
Coles will donate profits from friday feb13 to bushfire appeal
Commonwealth Bank have setup an account for those without credit cards that can directly transfer money into. There are also links there for credit card donations which of course anyone internationally can donate into.
Donation warnings
Unfortunately in times like these some scum will pose as taking donations for a well known outfit. If you're unsure or suspicious, DON'T DONATE to these people, as there are plenty of legitimate ways to send your money. The australian red cross website and above ccommonwealth bank link are two sure places that australian and international people can go to donate.
How did it get this bad
Bushfires are an accepted part of life in Australia, and they happen regularly throughout the year, however this fire has taken everyone by surprise. There have been some calls that residents should have been warned earlier, and that evacuation calls should have been quicker, but if we put the emotion aside, perhaps nothing could have been done..
- Australia and especially Victoria are going through their worst drought in 100 years
- A week before this the temperature was +40C for the entire week
- On saturday Victoria experienced its hottest day ON RECORD, temperatures reaching over 47C
- There was minimal, only 7%, humidity
- Winds gusted as strong as 80km/h on that day
This is footage of how quick the fire was moving
this is not sped up btw, winds were gusting up to and above 80kmh during the fires
All Australian residents who live in fire risk areas are encouraged to have fire evacuation strategies, and I can attest to them being heavily advertised on TV and everywhere else in the months coming up to the fire season. However the sheer ferocity of this fire caught everyone by surprise. We only have to compare the fires to other tragedies such as the Ash Wednesday Fires of 1983 to see how bad it was. In those fires 75 people died, and as a result of that much better management of fire risk areas and general awareness and preparedness came into being. So whilst the general forest management and undergrowth reduction strategies might be called into question as they should, the response of those trying to fight the fires shouldn't.
-------------------- original post--------------------------
This is being discussed as an addendum to the heatwave in NSW thread but it really deserves more attention. Following a record heatwave last fortnight and yesterdays insane 45degree day, Victoria was covered in fires yesterday and today.
here's a handy google map showing where some fires are and where people have died
Currently the death toll stands at 36 confirmed, however this number is expected to double.... Over 640 homes have also been destroyed.
As is also the case, unfortunately some of the fires are believed to have been deliberately lit. If this is true, I hope those people get charged with murder, which has already been discussed
Yesterday really was disgustingly hot here in Victoria and I cannot imagine the strength that those firefighters will need to get through this period, and I wish them the absolute best. I really hope as well that NSW doesn't go through something this bad as they suffer through a heatwave for the next few days as well
here are some links for those wanting to get up to speed on these events
http://www.theage.com.au/national/death-toll-rises-from-bushfires-20090208-80jv.html
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25023335-1243,00.html
more photos
