Tragic day in Victoria…

My heart and thoughts go out to all those that have lost so much through this event as it continues to unfold.

Feburary 7, 2009 – a tragic day in Victorian history. High temperatures soaring across the state and blistering gale force winds. Fires continue to rage across the state as I type, towns leveled,communities shattered and peoples lives changed forever. Massive bushfires continue to rage – it’s almost unbelievable. From the states west through to Gippsland.  14 confirmed deceased with fears that number could rise into the 40’s come daybrealk today.

 Temperatures soared across the state with most districts reaching the mid 40’s. Melbourne recording 46.4C – the highest  ever in any capital city. Far western suburbs such as Avalon topping at 47.8C. Whilst unofficial guagings in the NW of the state in the 49-50C range ( ! ) Here on the South Gippsland coast was not spared with max temperatures in the 45.4 vicinity. Windgusts across the state  peaking around the 115km/h range… A day that everyone knew that could be disaterous was realised. Over 400 fires across the state in 1 day (sadly numerous deliberately lit), with a dozen major blazes – many of which became fatal and heavy property losses.

 I won’t touch too much on the fires and tragic losses outside of Gippsland in this post at this stage. 

 At present a massive blaze continues to rage through the SE Strzelcki ranges – now consuming some 40 000 hectares in around 12 or so hours. This fire starting some 10km’s from where last weeks blaze burnt. I sincerely hope this was not the work of arsen again.Burning basically from the Latrobe Valley to the coast in a line from Churchil to near Yarram and east of there. This blaze is close to my heart in particular. Not only is this a region of some of my favourite rainforests anywhere and memories – a place that I frequently spend exploratory and photographic adventures. A region where we had our last farm with my late father, where we built a house in the foothills in the locality of Devon Nth. Phonecalls last night reveal it is all flattened. My friends and workcollegues house we built down the road from this farm a few years ago that they only sold 2months – gone. Other Friend’s that work with us sometimes having lost their family home as well.  The most important thing is that there are yet to be any reported fatalities from this district or fire. Daybreak may reveal less positive news though….

 North of this complex numerous other fires rage in West Gippsland threatening communities and towns in so many areas.There is almost too many and much for me to compile in this region at this stage. I’ll try to write more on these fires and a couple fo the other devastating blazes in this post at a later date.

Once again My heart and thoughts to all those affected and that have lost so much already.

 

** update :  amazing coverage from ABC with footage and images from around Victoria can be found HERE

**update : Devastating arial footage of the once gorgeous town of Marysville NE of Melbourne HERE

**update 5pm 8-02-2008 : Death toll now offically at 50 with many more expected – 9  confirmed in the Strzelecki fires this afternoon with many more expected here alone as crews become able to attempt to work there way into the ranges. – Sheer tragedy and devastation. I like many Victorians still feel in a state of disbelief.  Some of the stories of tragedy and survival from the last 24hrs in Victoria are beyond comprehension.

 550 homes confrimed lost in what is now known as the Kinglake complex alone as 2 massive blazes have joined NE of Melbourne. This combined fire now having burnt some 210 000 hectares in not much more than 24hrs. The Strzelecki blazes estimated to have burnt 35 000 hectares in 18hrs.

I feel the death toll from this day of pure hell may well become the highest in the countries history (I think TC Tracey in Darwin took 72lives). I also feel there porperty loss will go over 2000homes.Not to mention the loss of property,outbuildings,infrastructure,stock,animals,wildlife,flora and fauna.

This is likely to become the most tragic natural disater in Australia’s history. Whilst this may sound horrible for all those that have lost so much, but I feel we are perhaps lucky…lucky that the windchange didn’t come an hour or two later. This may have very well allowed those 80-120km/h north winds push these firestorms on to rage,spot and devastate their way into or through higher populated areas such as the beautiful Dandenong ranges and far NE-E burbs of Melbourne. If this had occurred I could not even imagine what the toll and devastation on all scales would be…I don’t want to… – It is beyond comprehension as it is.

 

 

Latest news can be followed via ABC radio on news online from HERE

**update 5:30pm 8-02-2008 :  The tragic toll now upto 65 confirmed – saddened and speechless. Buildings can be re-built but human life can’t.   😦

**update 9:30pm 8-02-2008 :  I hate too see this appear as a toll count but perhaps it is a bit of a tragic reality of this event… Latest news has the terrible number of people perished now at 76. Amongst the latest news is former ch.9 news anchor man Brian Naylor missing and his wife confirmed to have past in the Kinglake area. Having met Brian and his wife a number of years ago as we built them a home in the beautiful part of the Hedley range (part of the Strzelecki ranges). I recall him and his wife being fantastic people and I would enjoy conversing with them on all sorts of travel stories when they would arrive at their property.  NEWS STORY

**update 5:00pm 9-02-2008 : Latest human toll from the tragedy is upto 131 with it certain to continue to rise. People still searching and praying for unaccounted loved ones.

 Currently 52 fires still going across the state. With the Kinglake complex being the largest with a fire front estimated at 100km in length.  The Strzelecki fires continue to threaten communities. A new fire started at Wilson’s Prom yesterday arvo and I have since heard that the prom has been evacuated as resuorces are stretched to the limit.

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~ by Tony Middleton on February 8, 2009.