Wildfires across the Southern states of Australia have claimed the lives of 84 people, becoming the worst fires in the nation's history. Thousands of firefighters, aided by the army and volunteers, are trying to extinguish the blazes in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia and the death toll is expected to rise as the fires are put out. The fires have swept across the country destroying towns, spurred on by strong, unpredictable winds and 47 degree heat. Temperatures have dropped slightly but Fire Officials say that they will not be able to fully control the fires until there is rainfall.
The fires are believed to be the work of arsonists and police say they will be severely punished and charged with the murders of those the fires have killed. Premier of New South Wales, John Rees, said that "We will throw the book at you if you are caught," and that the arsonists faced a 25 year prison stretch.
Eye-witnesses report seeing flames four storeys high, trees exploding from the heat and ash raining from the sky. The blazes have wiped out 115 sq miles of farmland, forest and towns. In Victoria 700 homes have been destroyed and 14,000 homes across the state are without power. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said "Hell in all its fury has visited the good people of Victoria in the last 24 hours," and has ordered troops into the state to help tackle the infernos.
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