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02/09/2009 03:03:56 PM · #26 |
| Death toll up to 173 this morning. This is our worst ever disaster. They say it could rise to 300. |
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02/09/2009 03:17:02 PM · #27 |
My heart goes out to all involved. I know those had to be incredibly fast-moving fires to take so many lives. Those who live in areas affected by wildfires are generally pretty good about getting out when told to, so I can only surmise that there simply wasn't enough time.
If indeed they do find the fires were deliberately set, I simply cannot fathom what punishment would fit the crime. Well, I can, but even that would be too good. |
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02/09/2009 04:12:12 PM · #28 |
Some of the fires were deliberately lit. The fire that threatened my sisters farm was definitely the result of arsonists, who lit a number of fires in the Gippsland region over the space of a week. My family is all fine, and the farm is safe, but it was pretty close for a while. At least 19 people died as a result of the fires that person, or persons lit. They are reportedly close to catching that person.
Many of the other fires are unknown as to the start, however there has been reports that at least one was started by a cigarette butt (Won't people learn, don't litter, don't flick butts especially on days of 46oC).
As for the speed of the fires, the conditions in Melbourne on Saturday were horrendous. 46oC and wind blowing a gale, and then the wind shifted and all hell broke loose. Some media have reported that the fire front moved 25km in as little as 15mins. This has not been confirmed. The fires were spotting kilometers in front at a time, with many people trying to get out caught in their cars as all of a sudden they were surrounded by fire.
And the fires are still going, a number of towns are still under threat today. |
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02/09/2009 05:56:36 PM · #29 |
| It's a terrible thing that people can light, and even relight these fires. There is talk of 25 years jail for the arsonists - the equivalent of a murder sentence. Will it happen? I sure hope that that is the very least they get. They should be looking at never-to-be-released sentences, in line with our worst serial killers. |
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02/09/2009 06:22:23 PM · #30 |
| I just found out that good friends of ours are fighting the fires their parents' rural property at Upper Plenty. Being an ignorant Sydney-sider I didn't realise just how close that is to Kinglake - I pray that they and everyone else battling the fires is OK. Everyone who prays please do so also for the many, many people who have lost loved ones in this terrible disaster. |
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02/10/2009 07:53:26 AM · #31 |
This is a Facebook comment by one of my Pastor colleagues. He is up there at Kinglake doing chaplaincy, and will be there all week. He is an ex police officer, now a great Pastor. He just wrote words and impressions of what he saw:
Many stories of loss and many stories of saved homes, pets and lives. Burnt out cars along the roads, small timber homes untouched whilst brick homes burned, grey ash and black trees, a main street almost intact and areas untouched. Mates lost and families mourning. Hope in Christ and prayers of comfort, unity in suffering and rejoicing in those saved from the flames, human emotion raw and honest, mortality laid bare....
Message edited by author 2009-02-10 07:57:53. |
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02/10/2009 07:55:55 AM · #32 |
my thoughts and prayers are wtih everyone there.
I hope they get the **&^%%^&* that started this terrible chain of events. Mother Nature in all her fury right there.
Please let us know if there is anything we can do. |
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02/10/2009 08:07:54 AM · #33 |
Official death toll is up to 181 now... and a story in The Age says police estimate the toll may rise as high as 300. This is just terrible.
Thankfully, those "work colleagues and a few friends family members" I was concerned about are all okay, and from the reports to date, it sounds as though there were no fatalities in the areas where we frequent wineries and other local businesses when we head up to my folks holiday house at Mt Beauty. That said, the fires aren't over, and the authorities are still sifting through the detestation.
Message edited by author 2009-02-10 08:08:31. |
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02/10/2009 06:50:18 PM · #34 |
My cousin in North Devon is safe. But my daughter rang me from Queensland in tears yesterday. Friends of hers, a whole family, were lost in their car at Kinglake. This whole thing is just so dreadful and as already said, neither the fires, nor the grim search, are over yet.
Message edited by author 2009-02-10 18:51:03. |
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02/11/2009 07:04:56 AM · #35 |
there seems to be very few of us who arnt touched in one way or another
i have posted a challenge in the side challenges that hopefully might lift spirits not only for those effected directly but for us who know some that are suffering
the one thing that never ceases to amazed me is it the generousity of ausssies and also many from around the world
i hear today that some in NZ had queues of people waiting to donate money to the rescue fund
i pray that those who have lost loved ones can find some kind of solice in the knowing that many are caring for their well being and
so deeply want to help
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02/12/2009 03:03:38 PM · #36 |
My boyfriend saw something on the news about this little guy this morning. Some firefighters found a koala in an area that had been burnt and gave him water. They apparently also bandaged his little paws, but I can't find footage of that.
Thirsty Koala |
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02/12/2009 04:02:15 PM · #37 |
Originally posted by aliqui:
My boyfriend saw something on the news about this little guy this morning. Some firefighters found a koala in an area that had been burnt and gave him water. They apparently also bandaged his little paws, but I can't find footage of that.
Thirsty Koala |
Here you go.
Video of Koala.
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