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Dozens of people have lost their lives in bushfires tearing across the Australian state of Victoria. Four thousand firefighters are struggling in strong winds and fierce temperatures, trying to get on top of the fires. They say it will be days before they are under control.
Fire Service spokesman Greg Anof says the conditions are all on the side of the fires. He says it is worse than the infamous Ash Wednesday fires in 1983.
Fierce temperatures and ferocious winds have provided the conditions for fires to break into residential areas in the northwest of the state.
Many of those who died were trapped in cars, trying to escape from the flames. Six of the deaths were in Kinglake, north of Melbourne, where fire has swept through the entire town.
At least 100 houses have been destroyed.
- Newstalk ZB
