Photo taken by Jason South
Victoria, Australia - Saturday 7th February 2009 - The worst bush fires in Australian history.
This disaster is unimaginable. The death toll has already reached 181 and is climbing every day. Over 900 homes have been destroyed and 7,000 residents left homeless.
The stories we are hearing from the survivors is that it was like a "flaming cyclone"!
As this heart-wrenching event unfolds, I feel grateful that I do not know anyone killed or injured or who have lost their homes BUT the overwhelming sense of loss these people have endured, their excruciating suffering will stay with all Australians for a long time to come.
The most unsettling, mind blowing thing is that many, many of the fires were lit by arsonists.
There is an irony about the bush fires in Victoria.....the top end in Queensland is being devastated by floods. This country "down-under" is so diverse in it's people and it's environment.
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