Victorian bushfires death toll expected to rise to 230

The Australian ^ | 9th February 2009

[naturalman1975]

THE DEATH toll from the nation's worst bushfires is expected to more than double, with the Victorian Government being advised to prepare for 230 fatalities.

[unkus]

ping

[Doogle]

.....prayers up and support for our aussie FRiends

[cripplecreek]

Why all the deaths? I guess I don’t understand why so many are dying.

Lack of communication or an inability to leave?

[naturalman1975]

Most of those killed died on Saturday (it is nearly 2pm Monday, here) The death toll is rising as bodies are found not because people are still dying.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Prayers up for our Aussie frinds.

[cripplecreek]

I’ve been watching your headlines but haven’t really been aware of the timeline of events.

[valkyry1]

How many towns were hit? Is the fire still going?

[naturalman1975]

At least two towns have been destroyed. Dozens of others have been effected. Bendigo (the third largest city in the state) has been hit, with the loss of about fifty homes, but fortunately only one fatality. Suburbs on the outskirts of Melbourne have also been hit. At least thirty towns are still under threat. There are at least sixteen large fires or fire complexes still burning.

[valkyry1]

Wow, it seemed to have spread at incredible speed from a few articles I read.

[Cindy]

from your link in post no. 1:

"Responding to speculation that the fires has been deliberately lit, the Prime Minister, who remained in Victoria today, said it would amount to “mass murder”."

[Cindy]

OPINION:

I agree.

[FormerACLUmember]

Early-on NASA photo. The fires coalesced and apparantly trapped hundreds in a vast forest fire. The NASA photo shows numerous diverse sites all igniting in rapid succession, strongly suggestive of mobile arsonist(s).

[BlackVeil]

Ping - this is exactly what we feared.

[Capt. Tom]

Fred posted this info on another thread.

Islam group urges forest fire jihad Josh Gordon September 7, 2008

AUSTRALIA has been singled out as a target for "forest jihad" by a group of Islamic extremists urging Muslims to deliberately light bushfires as a weapon of terror. snip

full story at
http://www.theage.com.au/national/islam-group-urges-forest-fire-jihad-20080906-4b53.html?page=1

[Fred Nerks]

I hope it’s not true, but terrorism is a very real possibility:

Islam group urges forest fire jihad
Josh Gordon
September 7, 2008

AUSTRALIA has been singled out as a target for “forest jihad” by a group of Islamic extremists urging Muslims to deliberately light bushfires as a weapon of terror.

US intelligence channels earlier this year identified a website calling on Muslims in Australia, the US, Europe and Russia to “start forest fires”, claiming “scholars have justified chopping down and burning the infidels’ forests when they do the same to our lands”.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/islam-group-urges-forest-fire-jihad-20080906-4b53.html

[goodnesswins]

Isn’t Arson what happened in Greece or Italy last year?

[Cindy]

Are you thinking of the “youths” in Greece or the “youths” in and around Paris, France?

Basically, just about the same type of activities — riots and destruction.

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/youths
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/riots

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/athens
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/greece

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/paris
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/france

[goodnesswins]

NO...there were some huge fires last year (or maybe the year before) ..... in Greece or Italy....and they weren’t tied to any “youth” that I was aware of.

[Charlespg]

Prayers