Australia wildfires claim 135 lives
Published:Monday | February 9, 2009 | 9:36 AM
Australian officials have warned that the death toll from wildfires that have already killed 135 people in the state of Victoria is likely to rise further.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the numbers are alarming has warned the nation to prepare for more bad news.
Troops and emergency crews are still battling about 25 fires, two of which are threatening urban areas.
Some towns have been almost completely destroyed by the fires, with arson suspected in some cases.
An area of 3,000 square kilometers or 1,200 square miles has been affected.
Firefighters said temperatures have dropped and conditions have improved, allowing them to get some of the blazes under control.
However, two fires north-east of Melbourne are still described as major concerns.
One is threatening hamlets near to the town of Beechworth, and the other is the Murrindindi Mill fire, which is moving north-eastwards, threatening the township of Taggerty.