"Whilst Victoria Police have not been through the official identification processes, it is clear that the Roberts family have identified Mr Roberts and we send our condolences to their family and the Buchan community to whom he was so well-known and very highly regarded.
"As we get further information we'll update you, I don't propose to go through the 17 different location. That doesn't serve any purpose.
"They are from East Gippsland, from a number of smaller communities across East Gippsland.
"That number may grow or indeed people may report to authorities or we can get to them either via mobile phone coverage or getting people into those communities.
"It may be some of those people are safe but we hold very significant fears for the welfare of anybody who is missing at this time."
Rescuers face 's***house conditions' in Victoria
As the defence force arrives in the fire-ravaged community of Mallacoota, soldiers sent to rescue the stranded thousands are facing issues themselves.
Federal member for Gippsland Darren Chester took to Twitter this afternoon to post a picture of the horrific conditions, labelling them as "s***house".
Photo / Supplied
HMAS Choules is anchored around 1.5km offshore and is loaded with much-needed supplies.
Authorities are hoping to airlift people in need of medical assistance by tonight with hopes there will be more evacuations by sea tomorrow.
The naval ship has the capacity to fit 1,000 people however there are around 4,000 people still stranded in Mallacoota.
Blackhawk helicopters are also on their way to Mallacoota to assist.
Hundreds are being plucked to safety in the fire-ravaged town of Mallacoota in east Gippsland.
HMAS Choules, which has the capacity to carry 700 troops, arrived off the coast on Thursday morning from Sydney and the first recovery craft was spotted shortly after 9.30am.
It's understood between 500 and 1000 people will be taken from the fire-ravaged town today.
'Get out now': Humanitarian crisis on NSW South Coast
Authorities have less than 24 hours to move the thousands of people stranded on the NSW South Coast who face a humanitarian crisis amid looming horror fire conditions.
Bushfire-ravaged communities in southern NSW will continue to try to assess the damage after seven lives and at least 176 homes were lost.
Officials said the crisis is developing because there's no fuel, no food and no power.
People line up at the supermarket on the South Coast. Photo / via Twitter
Today, a fleet of ships and helicopters will supply and rescue residents trapped by fires in an Australian Defence Force deployment to bring food, water and medical help to towns in danger.
About 50,000 homes are without power, phone networks are down, major supermarkets are closed and there are reports of people are queuing up to three hours to get food.
Fuel is also running low. Two tankers came in late yesterday and there's a ration to allow motorists enough to fuel up and get out.
At 5.30am there are 110 fires burning across NSW with over 50 yet to be contained.
Firefighters will make the most of more favourable conditions today to protect properties before deteriorating conditions again this Saturday.#NSWRFS#NSWFirespic.twitter.com/vb3o55n8XU
This comes as Australia's Rural Fire Service has issued a map of highlighting an area 250km long from Batemans Bay to the Victorian border, where tourists were being asked to leave.
The supermarket in Narooma has been able to open thanks to a generator loaned from the fish shop. Locals and tourists lining up for groceries and booze @abcnewspic.twitter.com/rASDe4xv6A
There's a 24-hour window today to evacuate the region before extreme fire conditions return on Saturday.
The fires at Malua Bay. Photo / via Twitter
Firefighters say there's "no hope" of containing blazes before Saturday. Three watch and acts on South Coast. 110 fires burning across NSW, half of them uncontained.
The navy has supplies and an operations team on board — who will distribute water, food and fuel.
Although conditions have eased slightly, there are fears for return of horror fire conditions on Saturday, with high temperatures and strong winds returning.
