Search for victims as bushfire threat continues
Search for victims as bushfire threat continues
1 March 2009
published by www.theage.com.au
Australia — Fresh teams of soldiers are joining the search for the remains of at least 37 people still missing three weeks after the deadly Black Saturday bushfires.
Ninety reservists from interstate arrived in Melbourne yesterday to join the search and recovery effort as authorities warn of another severe fire threat with extreme weather conditions early this week.
The Department of Sustainability and Environment predicts increasing temperatures for Tuesday and winds of 60 to 80 kmh with gusts of up to 140 kmh in some areas.
Meanwhile, Country Fire Authority (CFA) crews are battling blazes at Wilsons Promontory, Bunyip, Kilmore-Murrindindi North and Kilmore East-Murrindindi South.
The total area burnt from the four fires is now 302,875 hectares.
While most of the Kilmore East/Murrindindi area fire remains within control lines, strengthening winds have caused fire activity to increase, particularly in the area south of the Burnt Bridge area.
