When I went to bed on Sunday night, I said I was afraid to wake up and see the number. I was gutted to learn, on Monday morning, that the death toll had risen from 84 to 111.
It stands, at this point, at 181 confirmed deaths. 950 homes destroyed. So far. It is not over.
This is gut wrenching. Those poor people. Those poor, poor people. How afraid they must have been. How heartbroken now.
Entire families cowering together, dying together. Families separated as they try to flee the inferno.
To learn that many of these fires were deliberately lit. Deliberately. As in, some horrible person actually, despite the record hot,dry weather, lit a match and started a bush fire. Fanned the flames. Stood and watched, probably with a thrill, them stand tall, climb a tree, move to another.
And now 181 charred bodies have been recovered.
How much higher can this go? How much can be endured for the stricken folk in Victoria.
I'm talking to the girls in the P&C tomorrow. We're going to pick one of the schools that has been damaged and try to do something. I don't know what yet, or if in fact, we can help in any way. But we'd like to try.
Stay safe, everyone.
And, from the ashes, a moment of pure beauty and wonder.
Its horrible! I cant understand how anyone could be so low as to deliberately light a fire. These people are sick and need help. To quote someone I was listening to on the radio this morning, they should be put in front of a fire and made to feel the intense heat of the fire they lit!
ReplyDeleteThankyou Mel for thinking of us down here, we are unaffected as the fires were no where near us, over the other side of Victoria, but it still hurts.
It's totally absorbing. My mind is full of horror stories, a few amazing accounts, but mostly pain :(
ReplyDeleteThe boys are 'playing' bushfires/fire fighters. It's effecting them too :(
Here in the Valley, we've now had 2+ weeks of bushfires. I've had friends and family evacuate, lose neighbours, lose property (but thankfully not their houses). I've spent a day praying that a friend was alive, knowing his neighbours left before the fire hit.
I'm sick of burnt leaves in our backyard, ash everywhere (I cant hang my clothe sout til I wash the line), sick of hearing of death. My dad is here hosing my yard/house for us.
Most of all, I'm sick of being told, reminded, hounded that someone caused this. Someone caused so many communities this pain.
Someone said that theyw ere exhausted, and they hadn't been fighting fires, or evacuating their home. This is exactly how I feel.
I know some friends are safe, as there's nothing left to burn, but I worry about the others- especially my wonderful inlaws, who somehow escaped the first attack, and now this last one.
I think I need my own blog ;p sorry for hogging :(
Mel, isn't the Koala story and photo gorgeous. It somehow gives hope.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry about this unnecessary tragedy. It's horrific. I pray that the fires will end.
ReplyDeletePrayers from the States...
It just beggars belief that supposed human beings deliberately started these fires.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I have been avoiding the news as it is just too painful to watch (and to shield the hypersensitive A who would start to worry about fires around here), and simply and quietly donating what I can to the relief efforts.
I haven't actually come to terms with the losses yet.... not being in Melbourne at this time has really hit me hard, as I am familiar with all the places that have been devastated by the fires.
ReplyDeleteThe images that we have seen will be forever imprinted in our minds and will always be remembered in our hearts. I lost a very brave firefighting cousin in the horrific Ash Wednesday fires, like the firestorm that occurred here, he and his fellow tanker comrade's were engulfed in a huge swirling rage of red when the wind changed while desperately trying to save someones beloved home. We remember him for doing what he loved most, being a fire fighter :) How did your school sistership/partnership go? I was so touched to hear that kinglake, kinglake west and flowerdale reopened this week through use of portable facilities :) The humanitarian side showed by australia and international friends in coming to the aid is heart warming :) Doing selfless things when the time really counts. Beautiful entries though :)
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