Traceve Posted February 9, 2009 Report Posted February 9, 2009 Toll at 173 now. For those wanting to know if Sam Gents has found his family yet, he's the guy that made the plea on National TV via Sunrise... Firefighters found 3 bodies (possibly 9) in his burnt down house. His wife's car was still in the driveway. Hopefully today they're going to ID the bodies and give him some actual confirmation. The reason why there may have been 9 bodies in there is because they had sprinklers on the roof and it was meant to be the safest house in the st for bush fires... but it's now in ruins.
rachel&kim Posted February 9, 2009 Report Posted February 9, 2009 That's awful, the not-knowing must be awful. But then again, you wouldnt want it confirmed either. This is such a horrific thing to have happened. My uncle lives in the Melbourne area though thankfully it hasn't reached them. They've got the car packed up and ready to go if it does. Once again my thoughts are with everyone affected by this
adellejefferiesxox Posted February 10, 2009 Report Posted February 10, 2009 173!!!! thats alot of lives. So sad... I dont it doesnt go passs 200.
maccaz Posted February 10, 2009 Report Posted February 10, 2009 According to www.stuff.co.nz, the Victoria Police fear that the death toll could reach 300.
John Posted February 10, 2009 Report Posted February 10, 2009 Be very careful with rumours or information any other place than Official Websites. The rumour mill is running hot and much of the information is not accurate.
Mez83 Posted February 10, 2009 Report Posted February 10, 2009 ^ John, stuff.co.nz our local newspaper site. It's got all the papers in NZ on it. They will be getting their info from a reliable place.
Traceve Posted February 10, 2009 Report Posted February 10, 2009 Us President Barack Obama has telephoned Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to offer his prayers for the people of Victoria, and the nation, suffering from the deadliest bushfire on record. Mr Rudd has taken phone calls from a long list of world leaders, who have offered their condolences, and some with offers of assistance. "President Obama said that we should know in Australia that the prayers of himself, his wife Michelle, their family and of the American people are with the people of Victoria, people of Australia," he told parliament. The US, along with New Zealand and Britain, is willing to lend a hand and about 35 American firefighting operation chiefs, aviation managers, planning section chiefs and specialists in land rehabilitation are waiting for final orders to help bolster the effort to control the blazes. This just makes me warm and fuzzy inside because I adore Barack because he's such a sweetie and what he did is just <3 Kinglake survivors are allowed back into the town in restricted areas to see if their houses are still standing. Dozens of towns are on alert for imminent ember attack as changing winds flare up Victoria's bushfires. The red cross donations are now over 15million dollars since Sunday morning.
chelsjo Posted February 10, 2009 Report Posted February 10, 2009 The whole thing is devastating, heartbreaking and very, very sad. :( My heart goes out to all those affected by the bush-fires. I really hope the death toll doesn't go up, it's too sad to see when they add to it I also really hope they catch the people who lit the fires and do charge them with murder! PS. I am really, really proud of how all the Australians are rallying together and doing all they can to help the bush-fire victims. I've been listening to 2dayfm (Sydney radio station) and they have been amazing with their donations, the Hamish and Andy show yesterday was very well done with their coverage, they were sensitive to the situation but still provided some light-hearted relief. Today the Hamish and Andy show are teaming up with the drive-time show on TripleM to raise money for the bush-fire appeal and also to reflect on the bush-fires (starts 6pm my time so I think that's 4pm in Sydney and Melbourne). I'm also watching the cricket (Australia vs. NZ) and they're doing a fantastic job to raise money also, one of the things they are doing is for every run scored today $100 is donated to the bush-fire appeal.
stephyrose4 Posted February 10, 2009 Report Posted February 10, 2009 Wow this is incredibly sad! Me and mum were watching the news earlier on, and I couldn't help but have tears in my eyes, and the same with my mum. My thoughts are with everyone that's been affected by this, its just extremely sad ! Some of our NZ firefighters have gone over to help today, so that's good!
zzazzb Posted February 10, 2009 Report Posted February 10, 2009 all of this has been donated, along with millions of dollars, mountains of clothes, toys, food and blankets form the Australian public. Corporate Australia has responded to Victoria's bushfire crisis with pledges of millions of dollars. TABCORP: $2 million WOOLWORTHS: $1 million ANZ: $1 million (pledged Sunday) COMMONWEALTH BANK: $1m (pledged Sunday), plus $100 for every run scored and $5000 for each six during Tuesday's one-day international between Australia and New Zealand in Adelaide. NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK: $1m (pledged Sunday) WESTPAC: $1 million BENDIGO and ADELAIDE BANK: Launched an appeal on Sunday with an initial $100,000. Said donations had already reached $1m. SUNCORP: $500,000 WESTFIELD: $1 million AMP: $1 million, and will also match staff donations up to a further $250,000. NEWS LIMITED: $1 million WA GOVERNMENT: $1m, plus personnel. FOSTERS: $750,000 SANTOS: $500,000 MYER: Will match customer contributions up to $500,000. WESFARMERS: $500,000 WESFARMERS INSURANCE: $50,000 COLES: Will donate this Friday's profits from its 750 stores nationwide. BUNNINGS: Stores throughout Victoria will donate proceeds from their daily sausage sizzle. KMART: $100,000 to the Salvation Army, and $500 Kmart vouchers to Victorians who have lost their homes. CROWN: $500,000 TELSTRA: $500,000, and will match contributions made by employees up to $250,000. DAVID JONES: $500,000 donation of David Jones gift cards. DJs will also donate the profit earned from all 37 David Jones stores nationally this Thursday, to Red Cross. ACTU: $250,000 ALH GROUP: $200,000, split between the Salvation Army Disaster Relief Fund, and the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund. QANTAS: $100,000 CRICKET AUSTRALIA: $100,000 CITY of SYDNEY: $100,000 RABOBANK: $100,000 AXA ASIA PACIFIC: $100,000 to Salvation Army. QANTAS: $100,000 CGU: $100,000 MERCEDES-BENZ: $100,000, plus $1000 personally from each member of the board of management, taking the total contribution to $107,000. FOOTBALL FEDERATION AUSTRALIA: $100,000. Will provide replacement soccer equipment to Victorian schools and junior clubs affected by the disaster. Will also offer families and firefighters and other emergency services workers free tickets to the A-League semi-final. AFL: It has rescheduled Friday night's pre-season Cup encounter between the Western Bulldogs and Essendon from Darwin to Melbourne to help the fund-raising effort. Tickets proceeds to the appeal. FAIRFAX: $100,000. SA CRICKET ASSOCIATION: $25,000 MALTHOUSE THEATRE: $11,872.38 to the Salvation Army, representing the box-office takings for Saturday's performance of the play Woyzeck. Under the auspices of The Myer Bushfire Appeal this will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Myer. CANNINGVALE AUSTRALIA: Has pledged to donate towels to all the households lost to the Victorian fires. GREYHOUND AUSTRALIA: offering a free freight service to help charities assisting with the Victorian fire tragedy relief efforts. Anyone who wants to donate to fire victims can send one parcel weighing 20 kilograms free from any Greyhound depot to Melbourne. VICTORIAN TAXI ASSOCIATION: Will pay taxi fares for the next two weeks, for people in affected areas, for travel to and from their property to the nearest major town (including school trips) who have: - Lost their house or their house has been severely damaged. - Lost immediate family or have family member hospitalised. - Lost their only family vehicle.
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